Fast Food Restaurant Investigated for Negligence

A number of fast food restaurants are being looked into for health checks. Some well known food chains have been found to be underperforming in the areas of food hygine.

It has been revealed that several fast food chains have been accused of professional negligence.

The Department of Health (DOH) announced that oil samples from five major fast food restaurants collected by the health group have tested negative for carcinogen arsenic.

However, the organisation noted that the extracted oil samples were not from the same fryers as gathered during earlier spot checks conducted by officials from the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), but were of the same manufacturing batch of unused oil.

Despite this, the local media has stated that it will be extremely difficult for health officials to lay accountability on a specific party, as the vendors and the CPC are continuing to blame others, especially as the McDonald's test results concluded to be free of any toxins.

Consumer Protection Commission

A County CPC official stated that the first spot checks in late June for oil samples at McDonald's were obtained five to six hours after the random investigation.

The spokesperson cited her doubts about the immaculate results and even went further to suggest that the fryers had been replenished with clean virgin oil.

However, despite these concerns, the laboratory which examined the data for oil samples provided by the CPC, stood by its findings and the objectivity of their testing equipment.

The equipment used to carry the investigation consisted of plasma mass spectrometry instruments to determine if metal concentrations were contained in the oil.

A clinical toxicology attending physician at the Veterans General Hospital, said that he and fellow colleagues were baffled by the notion that inorganic arsenic would even be found in cooking oil.

However, some experts are not so sure. Therefore, they have recommended another round of testing by the same third-party inspector, using the same oil samples taken by the CPC during the first spot check.

Due to the intensity of such a situation and the worry that customers would receive personal injury, the DOH has ordered more common and extensive inspections of frying oil across the region.

Such a search would extend to all vendors, not just fast food institutions. Those who do not comply with health and safety regulations and prove to be professionally negligent will be heavily fined, with names of establishments released to the public.

Exposed oil abnormalities

The cooking oil danger was alerted after the CPC reported that a McDonald's branch had a high level of metal toxicity in its oil. In fact, the oil acid value was 12 times the accepted norm. Cooking oil used by McDonald's and Domino's Pizza were both found to contain traces of arsenic.

The deputy public relations manager for McDonald's, acknowledged a drop of 10% in sales. The outlets now change their oil twice a day, following official regulations, the company stated. Before the arsenic allegations, McDonald's and several other fast food chains had come under fire for using the same frying oil for four days or longer.

Domino's Pizza said it had improved testing, with new results expected within the next few days. The group said that business had not declined.

In addition to this, 10 vendors were found to be using substandard frying oil.

If you have been affected by professional negligence find out if you are entitled to a compensationn claim.