A woman allegedly appeared to find what looked like a rat head in her chicken at a Popeye's Chicken in New York City.

Rosemary Thomas, of Clifton Park, on Sunday posted an unappetizing photo of a meal on Facebook and said it came from a Popeyes in Harlem, where she was eating with her daughter, sister and niece.

Thomas, who was at a Harlem Popeyes with family and found a rat's head in her food, has now retained an attorney. The fact that the rat-chicken is usually eaten in the dark is a plot device to prevent premature discovery of the "secret", although some might consider it an important symbolic aspect of the legend.

Thomas did not immediately return a message from Patch.

However, three previous check ins since 2013 have, found "evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas".

As recently as last May, the outlet famous for its fried fast food was called 'not vermin proof. The DOH, however, reported previous year, that the eatery "harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist".

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Well, I think Popeyes might have to soon say goodbye to that five-star health rating if this crispy fried squeaker turns out to actually be a dead rat.

Popeyes spokeswoman Renee Kopkowski told the Huffington Post that the owner of the franchise plans on meeting with Thomas to sort out the incident.

She added that the suspect food was likely to be an unusually-shaped chicken organ rather that a rat's head, and that it would be sent for DNA testing.

The franchise owner ordered an immediate health inspection on Monday and was once again awarded an "A" grade, Kopowski said.

The customer alleged that a manager said the fried chicken was a rat and apologized, but when KFC investigated the incident, they found the claim to be untrue.