A 3-year-old in Singapore was reportedly scalded after boiling water was mistakenly poured into her insulated bottle at a McDonald’s on Feb. 1, according to her father, former national player Ridhuan Muhammad. The child burned her tongue, received medical attention and is now frightened of the bottle. McDonald’s says a preliminary review found a misunderstanding at the point of service, has reached out to the family and is reviewing procedures. The parents acknowledged they did not check the bottle and urged other caregivers to double-check drinks for children.
3-Year-Old Scalded After Boiling Water Is Mistakenly Poured Into Insulated Bottle at McDonald’s, Father Says
A McDonald's sign outside a restaurant in San FranciscoJustin Sullivan/Getty
A 3-year-old girl in Singapore was reportedly scalded after boiling water was poured into her insulated water bottle at a McDonald’s outlet on Feb. 1, according to her father, former Singapore national footballer Ridhuan Muhammad.
Muhammad, 41, posted on Instagram that his daughter "scalded her tongue" after drinking from the bottle and required medical attention. He said the family outing quickly turned into a hospital visit when staff allegedly filled the bottle with hot water instead of cold.
In the couple’s joint Instagram post, Muhammad and his wife, Alisah, said the child is now frightened of the bottle. "She’s even traumatized at the sight of her water bottle," they wrote. Video shared by the family shows the girl crying and receiving treatment inside the restaurant and later refusing to drink from the bottle.
What the Family Says Happened
According to reporting by AsiaOne and the family’s social post, Muhammad approached the food collection counter and asked an employee to fill the bottle with cold water. He says the filling area was not visible from where he stood, that the bottle was returned without any verbal warning, and that he assumed the request had been followed.
A McDonald's sign outside a restaurant in EnglandAnna Barclay/Getty
Muhammad told the outlet the staff member initially said the family had requested hot water, then later said she "did not hear properly." He criticized what he described as staff complacency and negligence, arguing the incident could have been avoided.
Response From McDonald’s
"Our preliminary review indicates there was a misunderstanding at the point of service regarding the request for hot or cold water," a McDonald’s Singapore spokesperson told AsiaOne. "We have reached out to the family to offer assistance and support. The safety and well-being of our customers is our priority."
The company said it is reviewing the incident with the restaurant team to reinforce service procedures and clearer communication, particularly when handling hot items. PEOPLE has reached out to McDonald’s Singapore for further comment.
Parents’ Response And Safety Reminder
Muhammad and his wife acknowledged they made a mistake by not checking the bottle before their daughter drank from it. "We have learned from this experience. No parents would ever intentionally put their child in harm’s way," Muhammad wrote. The parents urged caregivers to always double-check drinks given to young children.
The family reported the child is now stable. The incident has prompted calls for clearer in-restaurant checks and better staff communication to prevent similar accidents.
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