A former Disney World Resort employee has pleaded guilty to hacking into the company’s computer system and altering menu information, including removing life-saving allergy information from restaurant menus. Michael Scheuer, a former menu production manager, was fired on June 13, 2024, and his termination was described as “contentious and not amicable”.
Scheuer has pleaded guilty to charges including intentionally causing damage without authorization to a protected computer and aggravated identity theft. According to a federal court plea agreement, Scheuer manipulated the allergen information on menus by adding information that indicated certain menu items were safe for individuals with peanut allergies, when in fact they could be deadly to those with peanut allergies.
The alterations focused on peanut, tree nut, shellfish, and milk allergens, and it is believed that the affected menus were identified and isolated before being shipped to restaurants. In addition to the allergy information, Scheuer also added profanity, changed pricing, and caused technical issues on the menus. He also allegedly embedded a swastika on some menus and made changes to wine information to replace geographic regions with the locations of recent mass shootings.
Scheuer’s attorney said that his client is prepared to accept responsibility for his conduct, but claimed that he was suffering from mental health issues exacerbated by his termination. Scheuer faces up to 10 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.