KFC fined £35,000 for selling undercooked chicken

A Welsh branch of KFC has been fined £35,000 after it was found to have sold under-cooked chicken.

Environmental health officers working for Caerphilly Council found that on 4 February 2017 three pieces of fried chicken were served to a customer that had not been thoroughly cooked. The customer alerted environmental health officers when he fell ill after eating the pieces of chicken.

KFC was found guilty of placing unsafe food on the market and failure to implement safe cooking procedures at Newport Magistrates Court on 13 July. The fast food chain was ordered to pay a fine of £35,000, alongside prosecution costs of £6,122, a £170 victim surcharge and £500 compensation.

Caerphilly Council said in a statement: “Caerphilly Council recognises that the Blackwood KFC restaurant has undergone extensive refurbishment since this incident took place and that the restaurant has been sold and is now owned and run by a franchise.”

KFC has said that at the time of the incident the restaurant was under their control however it has since been purchased by a franchisee. A KFC spokesperson said: “We have robust policies and procedures relating to our food, so we’re really disappointed with the outcome of this hearing.

“We take food hygiene and safety very seriously, which is reflected in the fact that 99% of our restaurants nationwide have a 4 or 5-star hygiene rating from the Food Standards Authority. That includes our Blackwood restaurant, which holds a five-star rating.”