KFC: That's No Brain in Your Chicken; It's a Kidney
A 19-year-old musical theater student found what looked like a brain in his Kentucky Fried Chicken Gladiator meal. KFC assured him it was no brain-more likely a kidney.
Ibrahim Langoo took a picture of what he thought was a "wrinkled brain" and reported the incident to KFC:
"I have a habit of picking the chicken off the bone with my fingers, and as I pulled the second piece apart, I saw this horrible wrinkled foreign body.
"I threw it down onto my tray immediately. It looked like a brain. I suddenly felt grim and really sick.
"I couldn't bring myself to pick the lump up, so I went to the serving counter to complain.
"It was about 1pm and pretty hectic in the restaurant and as it was so busy none of the staff helped me."
KFC apologized:
"We always try to ensure the highest standards in all of our restaurants.
"Although we haven't received the product, it appears from a photograph that unfortunately on this occasion a kidney, and not a brain as claimed, was not removed in the preparation process.
"We're very sorry about Mr Langoo's experience and while there was no health risk, we agree it was unsightly."
The company also offered Langoo vouchers for free food in the future. But he says he's done eating at KFC.
Discussion Starters:
- How do you assess KFC's response? Do you admire the company's honesty, fault its reference to a kidney, or some combination?
- What else, if anything, could the company have done to handle the situation?