A recent airline passenger was fined for taking what would become the ‘most expensive McDonald’s ever’ on his flight to Australia.
They were pulled aside by border patrol on entry to their home country for trying to bring the contraband snack in over fears of foot and mouth disease.
The bag contained two eggs and sausage McMuffins, hot cakes, and a ham croissant were flagged as the passenger entered Darwin Airport in Australia, and according to local media, Zinta, a new 'detector dog', was responsible for catching the breakfast smugglers last week.
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It ended up costing €1,820 after an infringement notice was issued and the food was seized and will be tested for foot and mouth disease before they were destroyed, reports the Mirror.
According to 9 News reports, Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watts, said Australia was committed to staying “FMD-free”.
He said the parcel of food would be “the most expensive Macca's meal this passenger ever has”, costing twice the cost of airfare to Bali.
"But I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia's strict biosecurity measures, and recent detections show you will be caught,” he added. "Australia is FMD-free, and we want it to stay that way.”
He said it was “excellent” to see Zinta was already contributing to keeping the country safe against foot and mouth disease which is a highly-contagious virus that largely affects hooved animals.
An outbreak of the disease was currently spreading through Indonesia and Bali, and if the virus reaches Australian shores, it could cost as much as $80 billion over 10 years.
Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry said FMD can be carried in meat and dairy products.
It was found in soil, bones, untreated hides, vehicles, and equipment and could also survive in frozen, chilled, and freeze-dried foods including meat and dairy products.
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