Jetting off abroad can be pricey at the best of times - but one traveller found themselves forking out the cost of their plane ticket three times over after a McDonald’s meal landed them a hefty fine.
The tourist had landed at Darwin Airport in Australia after travelling from Bali when the undeclared breakfast , including two sausage and egg McMuffins, hot cakes and a ham croissant, was sniffed out in their luggage by a detection dog. Not only was the food quickly seized, but the hungry traveller was handed a $2,664AUD infringement notice - equivalent to just over £1,500, The Mirror reports.
Australia has strict rules in place when it comes to bringing in food to help stop diseases getting into the country. The McDonald’s was taken away to be tested for foot and mouth disease, an outbreak of which is currently spreading through Indonesia and Bali, before being destroyed, according to Australian news site 9News .
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Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious virus that affects hooved animals including cows, sheep, pigs and goats. FMD can be carried in meat and dairy products, and can also survive in frozen and chilled foods, according to the Australian government.
Murray Watt, the Australian minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, said of the incident: "This will be the most expensive Macca's meal this passenger ever has - this fine is twice the cost of an 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. Australia is FMD-free, and we want it to stay that way.”
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