A 1-cm Glass Fragment Was Found in a Salad... Store Owner Responds, “Did I Put It in There on Purpose?” [What Do You Think?]

[Financial News] A consumer has alleged that a sharp glass fragment was found in a salad ordered from a well-known franchise, but that the company responded inadequately by avoiding responsibility and shouting at the customer, sparking controversy.
On the 6th, a post titled “There’s a glass fragment in the salad... Everyone, absolutely do not go there” was uploaded to the online community Bobaedream.
The author, identified only as A, ordered food for lunch on August 31 from a well-known salad franchise in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province. While eating the salad, however, A found a broken glass fragment measuring approximately 1 cm inside the food.
A said, “I had already swallowed small glass fragments, and I nearly swallowed the larger piece I found as well. It was a terrifying situation,” adding, “The hospital told me that swallowing glass fragments could cause internal injuries and that detailed examinations, including a CT scan, were necessary.”
The photos A attached showed a transparent, glass-like foreign object clearly visible among the salad vegetables, with sharp edges exposed.
The store and headquarters’ back-and-forth response after the incident intensified the dispute. According to A, when the store was contacted, it said, “Ask the headquarters,” while the headquarters shifted responsibility back by saying, “Communicate with the franchise owner.” As the two sides delayed deciding who would retrieve the food, the item in question was not collected until two days later.
A claimed, “During dozens of phone calls over three days, they showed an insincere attitude, saying, ‘We didn’t put it in there on purpose, but we’ll process it through insurance.’ In the final call, the store owner instead shouted angrily, ‘Did I put it in there on purpose?’”
A continued, “After consistently denying responsibility and shifting the blame, they simply sent me an insurance claim number five days later without offering a single apology,” expressing frustration by saying, “I am devastated by the irresponsible attitude of a major franchise with dozens of locations in Seoul and the Capital Metropolitan Area.”
Internet users who read the story criticized the company, saying, “Glass fragments can cause organ damage or internal bleeding, making this a serious food-safety incident,” and, “The blame-reversing attitude, rather than even an apology, is unacceptable for a franchise.”
Some, however, urged caution, saying, “Until the store owner’s direct explanation or recordings of the phone calls are confirmed, it is necessary to consider both sides’ positions in a balanced manner.”
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter