'Rat bread' case smells fishy

'Rat bread' case smells fishy

By Park Si-soo Police said Wednesday a rat’s body found last week in a loaf of bread from a famous bakery franchise seems to be a “plot” cooked up by a rival bakery owner to steal customers. The Suseo Police Station said it confirmed the owner logged onto a website with another person’s ID to post five photos of the rat’s body stuffed in the middle of the loaf of bread baked, allegedly from a Paris Baguette shop in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The accuser, surnamed Kim, is the owner of an outlet of rival bakery Tous Les Jours near the denounced outlet. The finding came after police analyzed video footage recorded by a surveillance camera installed at an Internet cafe, where the owner visited on Dec. 23 to post the photos. This contradicted the owner’s earlier allegation that the website was already logged onto when he sat at the computer, police said. Adding to suspicions against the owner is that he contacted SPC Group, which owns Paris Baguette, last Monday to have a secret meeting with the company. SPC refused to do so because the police investigation was underway. “He didn’t elaborate on why, so it’s uncertain why he tried to meet with us,” an SPC spokesman said. “We will take no action until the inspection by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation (NISI) is over.” The NISI is examining the rat, analyzing the ingredients of the bread and comparing it with Paris Baguette’s products to determine how and where the bread was baked. The results will be announced this week. Police are also awaiting the NISI report. Appearing before police last Saturday, Kim told reporters he would soon hold a media briefing to disclose all details regarding the incident, but he still remains silent. The scandal has rocked the entire bakery market and suspicions over cleanliness in the process of mass production of bread. The news affected the bottom line of many bakeries around Christmas Day. Paris Baguette said cake sales around Christmas make up 30 percent of a bakery’s annual sales. 수상한 ‘쥐 식빵’ 경찰은 지난 주 유명 제빵 브랜드 매장에 쥐가 들어는 식빵 사건이 소비자로 가장한 경쟁사 주인의 자작극으로 보인다고 수요일 밝혔다. 수서 경찰서는 제보자가 다른 사람의 아이디를 도용해 경기도 평택 지점의 파리바게트의 식빵에 쥐가 들어있다는 사진을 올린 것으로 확인됐다고 밝혔다. 제보자는 근처에 있던 경쟁사인 뚜레주르 매장의 주인이였다. 이는 김모씨가 12월 23일 이용했던 PC방의 감시 카메라를 조사한 결과 들어났다. 김씨는 지난 월요일 파리바게트 본사 SPC 그룹에 연락해 비밀리에 만날 것을 요구했지만, 경찰 조사 중이라 SPC그룹은 이를 거절했다. 국립과학수사연구소는 이 빵의 성분과 파리 바게뜨의 것과 비교, 감식한 결과를 이번 주 발표할 예정이다. 지난 토요일 경찰에 출두 하기 전, 김씨는 기자회견을 갖겠다고 했지만 아직 아무런 소식이 없다.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr