A KFC outlet in Nanzih, Kaohsiung, has come under fire after a customer discovered an entire battery inside a custard tart purchased for takeaway, sparking a food safety controversy. The customer shared the shocking find on Threads, revealing that they had almost microwaved the whole box before noticing the foreign object, admitting they felt “terrified just thinking about it.”
According to photos and videos shared online, the battery was embedded in the tart’s filling. The customer initially noticed a dark shadow at the bottom, mistaking it for a brown sugar mochi flavour, but soon realised it was a battery. They expressed relief at having eaten it directly without microwaving, saying the thought of heating it “still sends shivers.”
The post quickly drew widespread attention. A self-identified former KFC employee commented that during standard tart preparation, frozen shells are filled with egg custard and baked in ovens exceeding 200°C for about 15 minutes, theoretically preventing foreign objects like batteries from surviving the process. Questions were raised about how the battery remained intact. Some netizens, however, suggested that the tart’s appearance and size compared to others in the box indicated the battery may not have been deliberately inserted.
In response, KFC issued a statement apologising and confirming an internal investigation. Preliminary findings indicated the incident was due to a procedural lapse at the Nanzih branch, allowing a foreign object to enter the product. The outlet has since reviewed all operational procedures and reached out to the affected customer, though no reply has been received yet.
KFC also announced a nationwide review of operations, reinforcing standard procedures and pre-service checks, and designated the incident as a key area for internal improvement. The company emphasised that consumer safety is a top priority and vowed to strengthen internal controls and staff training to prevent similar incidents in the future.
