By RK Shih / Staff
KAOHSIUNG — A customer’s “wait, why is this egg tart… black?” moment in Nanzih District (楠梓區) has turned into a full-blown food-safety incident for Kentucky Fried Chicken (肯德基), after a battery was reportedly found inside an egg tart purchased at the chain’s local store.
According to local media reports, the customer posted on Threads after noticing a dark shape inside one tart and breaking it open to find a AAA-size battery. The customer said they had been considering microwaving the whole box, but luckily, discovered the battery first.
“My family kept telling me to microwave it because it tastes better hot, but I was too lazy and just ate it as it was — which ended up saving my whole family,” the customer wrote.
Kaohsiung City’s Health Bureau (高雄市政府衛生局) said it inspected the store and reviewed kitchen surveillance footage, which officials say showed a timer being dropped during preparation, with the battery bouncing into an unbaked tart tray. The bureau further said staff failed to follow standard operating procedures, requiring the affected batch to be discarded.
China Times and other outlets reported the bureau cited the Food Safety and Sanitation Management Act (食品安全衛生管理法), with potential penalties described in the Taiwan News ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million, and noted the case may be referred onward for further investigation.
The company issued an apology and said it was reviewing procedures at the specific store and conducting broader operational checks across Taiwan, according to reports.
