KFC in the Czech Republic is once again under criticism for hygiene breaches. In a branch in Prague-Dejvice, chicken was thawed improperly – already the second incident within a few months, after marinated meat past its expiry date was previously discovered in a branch in Liberec.
KFC in the Czech Republic continues to face hygiene problems. The fast-food chain has repeatedly been in the news since Czech journalist Jan Tuna reported issues with falsified expiry dates and the handling of meat that already smelled spoiled.
As now reported by numerous Czech media, staff in a KFC branch in Prague-Dejvice thawed chicken in standing water. According to the State Food and Agriculture Inspection Authority (SZPI), this practice significantly increases the risk of bacterial contamination.
“KFC has breached food hygiene regulations, as HACCP standards were not adhered to. The implementation and compliance with this system is legally required and is regularly inspected by the authorities,” stated the State Food and Agriculture Inspection Authority.
It is already the second incident within a few months
In September, inspectors in a Liberec branch discovered marinated meat with an expired best-before date. The SZPI subsequently carried out numerous inspections, many of which are still ongoing.
The extensive inspections were prompted by Czech journalist Jan Tuna. On his YouTube channel “Tuna versus,” he published several reports on the improper handling of meat in KFC branches. Tuna particularly criticises falsified expiry dates and the processing of meat that already smells spoiled. According to Tuna, these are not isolated cases but rather common practice. The fourth part of Tuna’s report was recently released and is now also available on YouTube (CZ).
Similar incidents in Denmark in June
However, this is not the first scandal currently affecting the chain. In June, media reports highlighted issues in Denmark. An internal employee chat and subsequent inspections by local veterinary authorities revealed that the method of “extending” was also used there – meaning new labels with amended expiry dates were printed if the meat was not used in time. The Danish KFC branch subsequently closed all 11 of its outlets.
In the Czech Republic, KFC has been operated by AmRest for 27 years; their portfolio in the country also includes Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks. Kentucky Fried Chicken is among the leading fast-food restaurants in the Czech Republic and operates around 130 branches nationwide.
