KFC on Monday pushed back against claims that stale chicken was being served at its Mangaluru outlet, saying information circulating after a recent customer complaint and food-safety inspection "doesn't depict the true facts" and asserting that chicken served and stored at its restaurants is maintained as per prescribed norms.
The clarification came a day after officials from Karnataka's Food Safety Division inspected the outlet on the direction of Health Minister U T Khader following a consumer complaint alleging that stale chicken was being served.
In a statement, KFC said it was committed to maintaining high standards of food safety, quality and hygiene, and that the claims circulating about the incident did not reflect the facts.
"We source high-quality chicken from reputed suppliers across the country and actively comply with FSSAI guidelines, along with certain global quality standards, to serve quality food to our customers," it said.
The fast-food chain said chicken served and stored at its restaurants is maintained as per prescribed norms and prepared in-store every day. It added that every piece undergoes multiple quality and safety checks, from the suppliers' farms to the customer's plate.
"We're fully cooperating with the concerned authorities and are reviewing the matter in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Any customer who wishes to know more about KFC's strict kitchen procedures and safety protocols can contact the restaurant manager for a kitchen tour," it added.
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During Sunday's inspection, officials collected chicken samples from the outlet and sent them to a laboratory for testing. The restaurant was also directed to clear its chicken stock and clean its cold-storage area.
The laboratory test results are awaited.
