KFC challenges Indian report on bacteria found in fried chicken

Saturday, 27 June 2015 01:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: The Indian unit of fast food chain KFC, owned by Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N), on Friday challenged the results of a test showing the presence of bacteria linked to food poisoning in a sample of its fried chicken, dismissing them as “false allegations.”

Food safety has hit headlines in India after government food safety inspectors found excess lead in packets of Nestle’s Maggi instant noodles.

The company disputes the test results and a subsequent recall order, but it has become India’s worst safety scare involving packaged food in a decade.

On Friday, a children’s rights group in the southern state of Telangana said it had submitted samples of KFC’s fried chicken legs to the state food laboratory on 18 June.

The laboratory report, which was seen by Reuters, detailed traces of bacteria such as E.coli, which indicates the presence of sewage or animal waste and salmonella.

In a statement, KFC said it had not heard from any authorities and was unclear about the circumstances in which the samples were obtained.

“There is no possibility of any microbial development in our food, which is freshly cooked at 170 degrees Celsius,” it added, vowing to seek a clarification from the concerned authorities.

Achyuta Rao, an official of APBHS, the group commissioning the tests, said it would submit a copy of the report to the office of the state’s chief minister later on Friday.

“This is a state laboratory report,” he added. “We are not against KFC or any brand. “We are a children’s rights organisation.”

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.