McDonald's corporation officials from Japan apologized Wednesday for the human tooth and plastic found by customers in their food.
Over the weekend a 1 1/2 inch strip of vinel was found in a Chicken McNugget by a customer, although that was just one of several mysterious findings in McDonald's food in Japan in recent months, reported Reuters.
In August a human tooth was found in a customer's french fry. In December a child cut his mouth on a piece of plastic that was in a chocolate sundae.
"I am confident that my family can eat McDonald's products," said Takehiko Aoki, senior vice president at McDonald's Holding Co (Japan) Ltd, at a news conference. "I think our response has been appropriate."
Aoki said that despite criticism that the company had been slow to announce its findings, he feels McDonald's handled the situation appropriately. He added that the handling of each case is different depending on its individual circumstance.
Aoki also suggested that some of the items found in the food may have been planted outside of the McDonald's kitchen. In the case of the tooth apparently none of the company employees at the restaurant or its suppliers had lost a tooth, and there were no signs the tooth had been fried, reported The Associated Press.
On Monday, which was just a few days after the most recent discovery, McDonald's locations in Japan began carrying french fries again after a labor dispute at the U.S. West Coast ports delayed imports, forcing the company to ration portions, reported Reuters.
McDonalds has been fighting falling sales long before these food safety incidents surfaced, partially as a result from the growth of other fast food chains and ready-made foods at convenience stores, reported Reuters.
