Woman in New York gets nasty fried surprise -- but Popeyes says it's 'not a rat'

A woman and her family tucked into a crunchy, crispy meal of fried chicken... only to bite onto a what looked like a crunchy rat's head instead.

Facebook user Rosemary Thomas shared her experience at Popeyes in Harlem, New York in a post on Sep 18. 

She wrote:

"Friends and family, this is a meal Popeyes in Harlem served my daughter, my niece and sister. This is clearly a rat and they have the nerve to have a 5 rating by the department of health

"Think about all the other rat that have been served and the lasting effect this will have on my daughter, niece and sister."

Health Department records show that the restaurant does currently boast an A grade. 

A spokesperson for Popeyes corporate told DNAinfo they were investigating the claims and that when odd food items are found amongst the chicken parts it "usually turn[s] out to be chicken organs." 

The parties are now in the midst of a legal battle.

Popeyes representatives, however, are confident the object is not a rodent.

Spokeswoman Renee Zapowski said the company has been assured by its supplier that the object is organ meat from a chicken and that testing would confirm that.

I'm not sure about them but looking at some deep fried head staring back at me is enough to put me off friend chicken forever.