[THE INVESTOR] The restaurant industry is on high alert as concerns over food safety have risen following news of a four-year-old girl losing 90 percent of her kidney functions after eating a McDonald’s hamburger.



Fast-food chains are experiencing a drastic decrease in customers and are taking precautionary measures to assure the safety of their products. According to industry sources on July 10, Lotte GRS, the nation’s top food and dinning company, is strengthening its guidelines.









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“Lotteria hamburger patties are all cooked manually, so education on the cooking time is essential. Though the restaurant chain has never experienced a problem, all activities at Lotteria are being monitored closely due to the recent food poisoning incidents,” said a Lotte GRS official.



The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said on July 6 that it has sent out an official letter to 11 franchise restaurant chains, urging them to conduct thorough inspections of their products and take proper measures.



They include McDonald’s, Lotte GRS, KFC, Pop Eyes, Burger King, Kraze Burger, Doni Burger, Mr. Big, Paris Baguette, Shake Shack and Tous les Jours.



By Alex Lee (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)