She thought it was just a weird aftertaste. The can still felt heavy. The smell felt wrong. And then she looked inside. What Mackenzie Kane saw at the bottom of her drink sent her straight into panic mode and eventually to the emergency room. The discovery wasn’t just disgusting — it raised serious questions about food safety, contamination, and how something so horrifying could slip through unnoticed. By the time the truth came out, the damage was already done.
A Normal Purchase Turns Into a Nightmare
In 2024, Mackenzie Kane stopped by a bagel shop in Grand Rapids and bought what she believed was a sealed white Monster Energy drink. Nothing looked unusual. The can wasn’t dented. The tab was intact. She opened it, got into her car, and drank it on the way.
She finished most of it before noticing something was off.
The can felt heavier than it should have. The taste didn’t sit right. Then came the smell — faint, but unmistakably wrong.
That’s when she looked inside.
What She Found Made Her Sick
Curled up at the bottom of the can was a dead mouse.
Not debris.
Not residue.
An actual animal.
Mackenzie panicked immediately. According to her attorney, Zach Runyon, she had unknowingly consumed liquid from a can containing a decomposing mouse. Fearing exposure to bacteria, parasites, or disease, she rushed to the emergency room.
Doctors evaluated her for potential infections and contamination-related illness.
From Shock to Hospital Visit
Medical experts say consuming liquid contaminated by rodents can pose serious health risks, including exposure to:
- Salmonella
- Leptospirosis
- Hantavirus-related bacteria
- Other pathogens carried by rodents
While not every exposure results in illness, the uncertainty alone is enough to warrant emergency care.
“You don’t wait and see with something like this,” one physician explained. “You get checked.”
Mackenzie did exactly that.
How Could This Even Happen?
That question is now at the center of growing outrage.
Energy drinks are typically manufactured in highly controlled environments with automated filling, sealing, and inspection systems. Consumers reasonably expect sealed cans to be sterile and safe.
So how did a mouse end up inside?
Investigators and food safety experts say there are only a few possibilities:
- Contamination during manufacturing
- A breach in packaging before distribution
- Storage issues at the retail level
Each possibility raises serious concerns.
Legal Action and Accountability
Mackenzie’s attorney says the incident represents a complete breakdown of safety protocols. While details of legal action are still unfolding, cases like this often focus on negligence, quality control failures, and consumer protection laws.
“This wasn’t a loose lid,” her attorney said. “This was a sealed can.”
The bagel shop and beverage supplier may both face scrutiny as investigators determine where the contamination occurred.
Not an Isolated Fear
While rare, incidents involving foreign objects in food and drinks are not unheard of. What makes this case different is the severity and the health risk involved.
A mouse is not just gross — it’s biologically dangerous.
Consumer advocates say this story highlights why traceability and accountability matter throughout the supply chain, from factory floor to retail fridge.
Social Media Reacts With Horror
Once the story spread, reactions were immediate and intense. Comment sections filled with disbelief, anger, and fear.
- “I’ll never drink from a can again.”
- “This is why I pour everything into a glass.”
- “How does this pass inspections?”
Some users defended the idea that freak accidents happen. Others demanded stricter oversight and transparency.
What Consumers Can Do
Food safety experts recommend a few precautions:
- Inspect cans before drinking
- Be alert to unusual smells or weight
- Stop immediately if something tastes off
- Seek medical help after suspected contamination
While responsibility lies with manufacturers and sellers, awareness can reduce risk.
A Lasting Impact
Mackenzie says the experience has changed her relationship with food and drinks permanently. What should have been a routine purchase became a traumatic memory — one that ended in a hospital visit and lingering anxiety.
She didn’t do anything reckless.
She didn’t ignore warnings.
She trusted a sealed product.
The Question That Won’t Go Away
A sealed can.
A trusted brand.
A hidden danger.
As investigations continue, one unsettling question lingers for consumers everywhere:
If something this shocking can end up inside a factory-sealed drink, how much trust do we really have in the foods we grab without thinking?