KFC investigating after ‘maggots’ found in chicken

A KFC customer has shared a stomach-churning photo of what appear to be a nest of maggots inside her piece of chicken.

KFC says it is “taking matters seriously” after a woman shared a photo of what appear to be maggots inside a piece of the fast food company’s chicken.

Anna Spargo-Ryan took to Twitter yesterday to share the stomach-churning photo of her sister’s food.

“Hi KFC! Hope you’re going great. Just wondering what the heck these white things are on my sister’s food. OK thank you!”

In a follow-up tweet, Ms Spargo-Ryan shared a stock photo of maggots — which look exactly the same as the surprise in her sister’s chicken.

How appetising. Picture: Anna Spargoryan

“Unrelated: a photo of fly eggs I found on the internet,” she joked.

The tweet is gaining traction online already garnering more than 130 comments and likes.

KFC Australia responded just after 10am this morning, telling Ms Spargo-Ryan the company “take matter like this very seriously”.

The fast food giant then asked her to share all the details of the piece of chicken with their customer service team via an online form.

Hi Anna, we take matters like this very seriously. Can you please share all details via https://t.co/EeJfRmCTix so a member of our Customer Service Team can follow up with you?

— KFC Australia (@KFCAustralia) December 23, 2018

In a statement to news.com.au, a KFC spokesperson said it was “unlikely this situation happened pre-purchase”, urging customers to cover their food over the summer months.

“It’s unlikely this situation happened in our restaurant pre-purchase,” the fast food franchise said. “KFC works closely with leading Australian forensic entomologists to understand flies to ensure our restaurant cooking and food handling practices are robust so we can keep our food safe.

“Their latest studies show that flies only deposit eggs in food with temperatures between 10 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius. We hold our raw chicken below these temperatures and our cooked chicken well above, so again, it’s unlikely this situation happened pre-purchase.

“Unfortunately at this time of the year flies are out in force across Australia. We urge customers to take care when leaving food uncovered during the warmer months to prevent these instances from occurring.

“We would welcome the opportunity to speak directly to the customer. They can contact us via our website kfc.com.au.”

The discovery comes weeks two after KFC found itself in the spotlight for a different stomach-churning photo.

Sydney woman Sarah Palmer took to Facebook to share the disgusting photo of what appeared to be “brains” in her KFC chicken — but the fast-food chain claimed it’s “more likely a piece of kidney”.

Ms Palmer posted the picture to KFC’s Facebook page on December 7, where it went viral with more than 22,000 comments and nearly 1000 shares.

“Hi KFC, I’m a fan of KFC chicken, don’t get me wrong,” she wrote.

“I love nugs just as much as the next person but today, upon purchasing what I had hoped would be some finger lickin’ good chicken from KFC Parramatta, I was horrified to find what looks like … brains.

“This is not a typo, yep I mean brains, buried under your delicious secret herbs and spices. Imagine my horror, nausea and disappointment. I wish this didn’t affect me as much as it does but this has put a real strain on my relationship with KFC.

“Would love your thoughts on how you think we can patch up our relationship. With fried regards, Sarah.”

Sarah Palmer said she found “brains” in her chicken.

In response, a KFC customer service representative wrote, “Hi Sarah, thanks for the message. I believe this is more likely a piece of kidney and not brain. Can you please PM and let me know what time you ordered, which meal you ordered and your best contact phone number for follow up.”