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Australian Restaurant Serves Pesticide Instead of Juice; Family Hospitalized, Restaurant Fined $41,000
Australian Restaurant Controversy: Pesticide Served in Drinks
In a shocking incident in June of last year, an Australian restaurant served a family a pesticide solution instead of cranberry juice. The parents and their two daughters drank the pink liquid ordered from the restaurant, but after just one sip, a daughter complained of a strange taste, saying, “The juice tastes like poison.” The mother, who also tasted the drink, sensed something was wrong, realizing the seriousness of the situation.
The Identity of the Pesticide Solution and the Restaurant's Response
The children, who spat out the drink, and the mother, who sensed something was amiss, raised the issue with the restaurant. The restaurant initially downplayed the matter, suggesting it was “just the taste of old juice.” However, when the parents personally checked the drink bottle, its true identity was revealed. It was a citronella oil solution used for outdoor lamps, a pesticide containing the insect-repelling ingredient bifenthrin. The family was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment and, fortunately, all recovered safely.
Court Ruling and Warning to the Foodservice Industry
Three days after the incident, an Australian court fined the restaurant approximately $41,000 AUD. The parents of the affected family expressed their hope that this incident would “serve as a wake-up call for the entire foodservice industry,” strongly urging that such dangerous mistakes never be repeated. This incident, a serious lapse in judgment by a restaurant that should prioritize customer safety, is expected to be a crucial case that draws attention to the entire industry.
*Source: YouTube: JTBC News (2026-03-07)*
