As I was going through the mail one day late in the year 1990, I noticed one memo that seemed important.  Although at the time my restaurant was franchised, this memo was sent from Jack in the Box’s parent company, Foodmaker, Inc (now Jack in the Box, Inc).  The memo stated that it was in regards to an incident that had happened in one of the restaurants in the Phoenix, AZ area.  The company stressed that we read the memo to all of the members of our crew and to let them know that Jack in the Box does not condone such activity.  The looks I received when I read this note to the crew still make me giggle some.  Why the company would think that it was beneficial to “plant this seed” into every mind in the company, I will never know.  This is what the memo said:

     A 20-year-old fast-food worker has been arrested after he allegedly blew his nose into a hamburger that he served to a Phoenix police officer and then laughed about it.

     George J. Kuehme, who had been on the job for less than a week, reportedly told a co-worker, ''That's what the cop gets'' as he tainted the food, police said.

     Kuehme, of the 2400 block of East Willetta Street, was accused by police of aggravated assault, adding a harmful substance to food and disorderly conduct. He was being held at a Maricopa County jail in lieu of $3,425 bail.

     ''This is like pulling a gun on an officer,'' said Sgt. Kevin Robinson, a Phoenix police spokesman. ''He intentionally tried to injure or provoke the officer.''

     Kuehme, who declined to be interviewed Tuesday, would face up to 45 months in prison if he were charged formally and convicted of the two felonies and one misdemeanor police are recommending to prosecutors.

     The incident occurred about 8:30 p.m. Monday when Officers Gary Underhill and David Duron placed an order at the drive-through window at Jack in the Box, 1001 N. 24th St., police said.

     The officers left with their food, responded to a forgery call then sat down to their meals, police said.

     Underhill reportedly took three bites into his hamburger when he noticed ''nasal mucus'' on his hands and face, according to Officer Leo Speliopoulos, a police spokesman.

     ''It was a repugnant act,'' Speliopoulos said.

     Underhill and Duron returned to the restaurant and spoke to the shift manager, Aaron Gulsarry, who confronted Kuehme, police said.

     Kuehme reportedly admitted the prank but offered no reason for his action, authorities said. He was immediately fired by Gulsarry.

     ''We are shocked and horrified at the information reported by the officer,'' said Jan McLane Rieger, a spokeswoman at Jack in the Box corporate headquarters in San Diego.

     The restaurant closed early Monday night as a result of ''the commotion'' caused by the arrest, she said.

     Underhill complained of stomach pains after the meal and expressed concern about catching communicable diseases, Duron wrote in his report.

     Underhill, however, required no medical treatment.

     Copyright:

(c) 1990, Phoenix Newspapers Inc.

http://tafkac.org/food/burger_spit.html

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