"Apparently, the shake machine is not deep-cleaned every single day. "It is cleaned bi-weekly and every night it just heats up the milk contents so that it kills off the bacteria in the milk. The nozzles are not cleaned properly, nor are the dispensers, save for the bi-weekly cleanings," the employee said. This results in a thick buildup forming in the machine, which the person says is "a pain in the a** to remove, and crusty.""
"A different Reddit post, this one from 2023, shows a repulsively dirty shake machine, alongside a claim that it hasn't been cleaned in over six weeks. "A few weeks ago I had found a maggot underneath it and it smells like rot," the employee wrote. "I'm just amazed that we're continuing this s***, I've been lying and saying it's down, but other people have been openly selling it or making it for customers.""
McDonald's shake machines undergo an automatic daily heating cycle but receive thorough deep-cleanings only bi-weekly. The nightly heat cycle raises the mixture to about 155°F to kill bacteria, yet nozzles and dispensers are not cleaned nightly. Thick, crusty buildup can form inside the machines, and some machines have reportedly gone uncleaned for over six weeks with maggots and a rotten smell. Some workers mark machines as down while others continue to serve shakes. These practices create contamination risks and consumer safety concerns. Bi-weekly cleaning claims date back to 2014, with little improvement years later.
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