Woman Scarred With Second-Degree Burns From KFC Gravy

When 22-year-old Beth Smale entered KFC for lunch in Milton Keynes, England with her father and his partner, she wasn't expecting a life-changing experience. She got more than she bargained for, however — by the time she exited the store, she was scarred for life. Her leg had been marred by scalding-hot gravy from her chicken meal.

The incident occurred on June 17, but the young woman is speaking up now for fear of another customer getting hurt. "The day I got burnt, the doctor told me the temperature of that food must have been way too hot to cause that injury," Smale recalled. She now insists that KFC take responsibility and take preventative action.

Smale's injury was severe enough for alarm: The 22-year-old required weeks of advanced medical care to heal the second-degree burn, which consisted of blistering and scars.

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The gravy had spilled off the table after Smale quickly set it down, noticing it was too hot to hold. It was only on her leg for a couple of seconds before she brushed it off. "By then my leg was already bubbling, the blisters came up within about five minutes," Smale reported.

She was rushed to the accident and emergency department at Milton Keynes Urgent Care Clinic, where the doctor told her the severity and treatment plan for her burns.

"It was disgusting — they had to pop all the blisters and rip all the skin off," Smale lamented. "My skin was still burning underneath, so she had to rip two layers of skin off." After the initial dressing, Smale endured weeks of scorching pain and repeated doctors' visits. She was forced to cancel her plan to vacation in Dubai with her boyfriend due to embarrassment over the wound's appearance and necessity to hide the raw skin from sunlight.

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Once she reasonably recovered, she returned to KFC on the advice of her doctor. She initially only filled out an Accident Report Form, but after speaking with an unapologetic manager, she filed an official complaint. KFC's response was a $25 voucher for the chain and a refusal to accept liability.

"I think it's horrendous they're not taking responsibility," Smale insisted. "I just want to make sure they have a system in place to make sure it can't happen again."