A customer in Kaohsiung was stunned after biting into a KFC egg tart and discovering a AA carbon-zinc battery inside. The patron said they had initially planned to microwave the tart but decided against it—luckily avoiding a potentially dangerous situation. The incident has raised major food safety concerns. KFC issued a written statement acknowledging the error and apologising for the mishap. The Kaohsiung Health Bureau promptly visited the store to investigate the incident.
According to reports, the battery was found after the customer had eaten part of the egg tart. Authorities did not take the matter lightly, inspecting the Nanzih branch where the tart was purchased.
“I thought it might explode! It feels really scary,” the customer said. Others speculated it was an accident: “Maybe it accidentally fell in there,” while some were baffled: “How could this happen? How would anyone know?”
The bizarre discovery sparked debate online. Many questioned how a battery could survive baking without leaking or deforming, suggesting it may have been deliberately inserted. Former staff members countered this, noting that the small pouring spout for the tart mixture made it nearly impossible to insert a battery, and that the battery appeared fully intact, not forced in.
Physics teacher Chen You-ting commented, “Even a carbon-zinc battery would normally deform or leak if baked. Its internal paste might come out, but shape changes would happen.”
The fast-food chain issued a written statement, confirming an internal investigation had begun. Preliminary findings suggest a procedural lapse at the branch allowed a foreign object to enter the product. KFC reached out to the affected customer and apologised for the inconvenience, admitting operational negligence. Thankfully, the battery was not microwaved, which could have caused a serious accident. The incident has also negatively impacted the brand’s image.
The Health Bureau inspected the branch on February 11 after being notified. They reviewed raw ingredients and found no foreign objects. Surveillance footage revealed that an employee’s timer had accidentally fallen into an uncooked egg tart tray, causing the battery to end up inside the tart. The store admitted the incident resulted from a procedural oversight and that the affected batch was not discarded according to standard operating procedures.
The Health Bureau stated it will take action under Taiwan’s Food Safety and Sanitation Act, Articles 15(1)(3), 44, and 49, with fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million, and the case will be referred to prosecutors for further investigation.
Authorities urged food establishments to strictly follow food safety regulations, improve staff training, and ensure hygiene management to protect consumers. Members of the public with complaints about purchased food can contact the city’s Consumer Service Center or call 1950. Any food safety issues can also be reported to the Health Bureau’s Food Safety Division.
