Caustic soda mistakenly sprinkled on chips from a salt shaker at a Chicken Treat outlet has caused burning to customers’ mouths and throats.
Five children and six adults eating at the Bunbury restaurant in Western Australia last week are recovering from the incident. Two adults, a woman in her 20s and a man aged in his 30s were taken to hospital in Perth, reports The Advertiser.
On 24 May, Chicken Treat general manager, Peter Scodellaro said the Blair Street store would remain closed while the company continued its internal investigation.
In a statement on the company’s website, Scodallaro said “The store will remain closed until we have concluded a thorough investigation. That will include further consultation with police and all relevant local authorities.
“Today we have continued to assist Bunbury Police with their investigation and senior company managers have travelled to Bunbury to meet with city health authorities.
“I have also had the opportunity to speak with some of the customers affected on Wednesday night and I have assured them all avenues of investigation are being pursued. They deserve answers and we are working hard to provide them.”
Scodellaro said Chicken Treat thanked regular patrons to the Blair Street store for their patience and details regarding its reopening would be provided as soon as they were available.
This update follows a statement earlier in the week in which the WA based franchisor explained it is co-operating with enquiries into the incident which it “deeply regrets”:
Chicken Treat deeply regrets that a number of customers who yesterday visited the Blair Street store later required medical assistance. We sincerely wish all of those people affected a speedy recovery….Relevant external authorities have been contacted and Chicken Treat will fully co-operate with any inquiries those authorities determine are necessary. Whilst the circumstances that caused yesterday’s incident remain subject to investigation, there is no indication that any other Chicken Treat stores are affected.