Health officials inspect KFC outlet at City Centre Mall after consumer complaint
Food safety officials in Mangaluru inspected a KFC outlet at City Centre Mall on the direction of Health Minister U T Khader following a consumer complaint alleging that stale chicken was being served, authorities said on Monday. The Food Safety Division collected chicken samples for laboratory testing and instructed the outlet to clear its chicken stock and clean the cold storage area.
In response, KFC issued a statement saying the information circulating after the inspection "doesn't depict the true facts" and reaffirmed its commitment to food-safety standards. The company said it sources chicken from reputed suppliers, complies with FSSAI guidelines and certain global quality standards, and that chicken served at its restaurants is prepared in-store every day.
"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," the company said.
The KFC statement also said each piece of chicken undergoes "multiple stringent quality and safety checks from the suppliers' farm to the consumers' plate" and that the brand is "fully cooperating with the concerned authorities" while reviewing the matter under applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The company offered customers the option of contacting the restaurant manager for a kitchen tour to understand its procedures and protocols.
- Action taken by officials: inspection by Food Safety Division; chicken samples collected for lab testing; directive to clear chicken stock and clean cold storage.
- KFC response: maintains chicken is prepared in-store daily and stored as per norms; adherence to FSSAI rules and global quality standards claimed.
- Next steps: laboratory testing of samples; further action will depend on test results and the authorities' findings.
The inspection formed part of heightened scrutiny of food-outlet practices in the city, after a consumer raised concerns about the freshness and handling of chicken served at the outlet. Officials confirmed that samples had been taken to a laboratory for testing; they also directed immediate remedial measures at the outlet, including removal of existing chicken stock and cleaning of refrigeration units.
Public-health implications are central to such probes: food-safety checks typically assess not only whether items are within expiry but also storage conditions, segregation of food types, temperature controls and hygiene procedures in kitchens and cold storage. The KFC statement stressed compliance with prescribed norms and invited customers to see kitchen procedures directly through manager-led tours.
| Item | Action taken |
|---|---|
| Complaint | Consumer alleged stale chicken |
| Inspection | Food Safety Division inspected outlet |
| Samples | Chicken samples collected and sent for laboratory testing |
| Immediate directive | Clear chicken stock; clean cold storage |
| Company claim | Chicken served and stored as per norms; prepared in-store daily |
Officials did not release details of the laboratory findings at the time of the inspection; any subsequent action will be guided by test results and compliance with regulatory norms. The sequence of inspection and company response echoes broader national-level attention to food-safety compliance at restaurant chains, and has prompted additional checks at other outlets in the same mall.
As the probe proceeds, consumers in Mangaluru are being advised to await the laboratory report and follow any guidance issued by the Food Safety Division. The KFC statement emphasised cooperation with authorities while reiterating its food-safety protocols and supplier controls.
Further developments, including laboratory results or regulatory directions, will determine whether penalties, corrective notices or further inspections follow.
