The Danish operator of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurants, Isken Aps, has declared bankruptcy, impacting 11 locations and nearly 200 employees across Denmark. The bankruptcy follows a series of events, including allegations of food safety violations and the termination of an agreement with KFC’s European headquarters.

The situation escalated after a documentary in June revealed that employees were allegedly manipulating date markings on chicken meat. Former employees admitted to extending the expiration dates of thawed chicken, prompting an investigation by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. The inspections uncovered unsanitary conditions in several restaurants, including mold, dust, and cobwebs at the Odense location, resulting in four negative smiley ratings.

KFC’s European headquarters subsequently terminated its agreement with Isken Aps and demanded the closure of the restaurants. Initially, Isken Aps disregarded the demand. However, financial difficulties soon emerged, and the company was unable to pay employee wages two weeks prior to declaring bankruptcy on July 18th.

Before the bankruptcy, Isken Aps operated 11 KFC restaurants in various cities, including Odense, Copenhagen, Rødovre, Greve, Tilst, Horsens, Vejle, and Herning. Kentucky Fried Chicken, an American fast-food chain founded over 70 years ago, boasts more than 30,000 restaurants in 145 countries and is known for its fried chicken offerings.