South Korean authorities look into McDonald’s bulgogi burger which has been blamed sickening students
Sales of the locally-inspired burger have been suspended
By Kim Bo-eun
Health authorities in South Korea are inspecting McDonald’s bulgogi burgers, which are alleged to have caused stomach flu in multiple elementary school students in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.
On Saturday, the global fast-food chain’s Korean unit suspended sales of the locally-inspired burger nationwide.
McDonald’s move came after seven elementary school students and a teacher showed symptoms of enteritis including stomachache, diarrhea and fever, after eating the burger at a McDonald’s store in the southwestern city of Jeonju August 25. One of the students was reportedly hospitalised. They submitted a complaint to McDonald’s August 28.
“We deeply regret that the customers who visited the restaurant in Jeonju experienced any illness and wish the customers a quick recovery,” McDonald’s Korea said in a statement. “The company is cooperating with the government authorities’ investigation to identify the cause of the illness. The suspension of sales is a precautionary measure prior to uncovering the exact cause of the disease.”
The Jeonju health centre has taken samples of the ingredients of the bulgogi burger from the troubled outlet. Results of testing could be announced Wednesday, at the earliest.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has also conducted a separate hygiene inspection of the outlet’s kitchen. The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention notified the public Saturday to report cases of similar symptoms after eating food at the Jeonju outlet.