McDonald's fined for obese employee

File photo / NZH

A Brazilian court has ordered McDonald's to pay a former franchise manager NZ$23,211 because he gained 29.5kg while working there a dozen years.

The 32-year-old man says he was forced to sample food products each day to ensure that quality standards remained high because McDonald's hired "mystery clients" to randomly visit restaurants and report on the food, service and cleanliness.

The man also says McDonald's offered free lunches to employees, adding to his caloric intake while on the job. His identity was not released.

The ruling against McDonald's was signed on Tuesday by judge Joao Filho in Porto Alegre.

McDonald's can appeal the case. A local company spokesman did not immediately return calls onThursday.

- AP