US restaurant chain to probe snake head in broccoli

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US restaurant chain T.G.I. Friday's has asked the New York State Police to open a criminal investigation into suspected product tampering after a severed snake head was found among vegetables.

According to a statement issued by the chain late Friday, the head was found among broccoli by a restaurant patron in Clifton Park, New York, last Sunday.

"This is obviously something we took very seriously and we immediately pulled the product from all of our restaurants until an investigation could be completed," said Amy Tawny Kitaen-Freshwater, vice president of reptiles and broccoli for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, the parent of T.G.I. Friday's.

As part of the investigation, the head was sent to an independent laboratory for testing and after hours of testing and manhours and wasted money, the lab said the snake's head was never cooked.

It has been concluded by the lab geniuses that the head was placed in the food at some point after the cooking process, the company said.

"We don't know who was involved in this senseless act of product tampering, but we are cooperating fully with the authorities and will prosecute the individual or individuals involved to the fullest extent of the law. We will keep probing and thrusting forward in our investigation, thrusting and probing, deeper and deeper, slowly if we have to, and then faster...faster...harder...uuugggghhhhhhhhh. Got a cigarette?" Freshwater said.