Fast Food Playgrounds Are Riddled With Poop

It’s safe to assume that the sometimes-sticky, graffiti-ridden, often-dirty play areas in places like McDonalds, Burger King, even Chuck E Cheese’s are not germ-free. But how dirty are they, really? Very dirty. And filled with feces.

After following her son through a grime-filled play tube, it dawned on Erin Carr-Jordan: “It was so disgusting. There was filth everywhere.” The concerned mother started complaining to the local restaurants, and when her concerns fell on deaf ears, she decided to start filming the insides of the play areas for proof. She swabbed areas and collected samples at nine different restaurants in seven different states, spending her own money to get the samples tested at labs. The results showed that 8 of the 9 locations sampled tested positive for fecal matter. [Ed: I suddenly resent my mother 100% less for never allowing me to get near a Playland..]

Don’t worry, Erin’s crusade is not to get rid of children’s beloved play areas — she just wants to see them clean and regulated. She makes a good point: how can the government require restaurant kitchens and bathrooms to be cleaned by law, but not the gigant surfaces our kids play on?