Video Shows Dunkin' Employee Dropping Donuts, Then Putting Them up for Sale
Video of the incident has garnered more than 71,000 views on Facebook.
— -- Video showing a Dunkin' Donuts employee dropping a tray of donuts on the floor and then putting it back on a display rack for sale has been turning eyes -- and stomachs -- on Facebook.
The incident was recorded last November at a Dunkin' Donuts franchise in Mendon, Massachusetts, according to Liam Flaherty, a college student who said he used to work at the franchise. The video was posted to Flaherty's Facebook page this past Wednesday, and it had more than 71,000 views as of this afternoon. (Note: ABC News has edited the video to condense the action.)
Flaherty, 20, told ABC News today he only decided to publicly post the video to Facebook after becoming "fed up" and "frustrated" with the franchise's management, who he said hadn't been responding to his recent complaints. He explained that the employee seen dropping the donuts in the video was his manager.
ABC News is not identifying the manager.
"People ate those donuts that fell and touched the ground," Flaherty said. "And she was just OK with that."
The manager seen in the video declined to comment to ABC News today.
The Dunkin' Donuts franchise in Mendon, Massachusetts, did not answer ABC News' calls today, and its general manager and its owner did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment.
In a statement to ABC News today, Dunkin' Donuts' global office said the company was "aware of the video" and that it takes "matters like this very seriously."
"The actions seen in the video at a franchised Dunkin' Donuts restaurant are absolutely inconsistent with our strict food safety standards and requirements," the company said. "According to the franchisee, upon hearing of this incident in November 2015, he investigated the matter and met with the employee to discuss the fact that the donuts should have been immediately disposed of in keeping with our standards."
In an additional statement, the company said: "At Dunkin' Donuts, food safety is a top priority and nothing is more important to us than the operation of clean and safe restaurants. We have been informed that the Mendon Board of Health visited the Dunkin' Donuts restaurant today for an inspection and no violations were found."
The statement continued: "Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants are independently owned and operated by individual franchisees who are solely responsible for their employees, including employment decisions such as schedules and wages. Franchisees are required to comply with all applicable state, federal and local laws, including but not limited to wage and hour laws and those governing health and safety."
A Dunkin' Donuts spokeswoman told ABC News today that the company was "unable to comment on franchisees' current or former employees."