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‘Our nightmare come true’: Long Island baker accused of trying to pass off Dunkin’ as ‘vegan and gluten free’ doughnuts
A baker on Long Island, New York, allegedly delivered an order of doughnuts that included one pastry with telltale pink and orange sprinkles.
America runs on Dunkin’, and Dunkin’ runs on orange and magenta — two signature colors that represent a brand identity stronger than the chain’s coffee.
So when a baker on Long Island, New York, recently delivered an order of “vegan and gluten free” doughnuts that included one with telltale D-shaped pink and orange sprinkles, the internet cried foul.
The controversy came to light after Long Island-based vegan market Cindysnacks shared a photo of the suspect doughnut, which allegedly arrived as part of a Feb. 23 order from local baker The Savory Fig.
The sprinkles raised a red flag for Cindysnacks co-owner John Stengel, who noted that the pastry was decorated “in such a strikingly similar way to a recognizable chain,” the market explained in a March 3 Instagram post. Stengel pulled all of the delivery items from the market’s racks while he tried to confirm what happened, according to Cindysnacks’ post.
The market’s Instagram post included a screenshot of an apparent text exchange between Cindysnacks and the owner of The Savory Fig.
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“These are definitely little D Sprinkles, ones Dunkin’ Donuts uses, even the same colors as the Dunkin logo,” Cindysnacks pointed out in one text message. “If these are Dunkin’ Donuts the ingredients could kill somebody as we have so many [people] with severe dairy allergies that shop here.”
More on Dunkin':
“These are definitely not Dunkin’ Donuts!” The Savory Fig owner allegedly replied. “If you don’t wanna put them out, don’t. But they are not Dunkin’ Donuts!”
Dunkin’ did not respond to a request for comment. However, a look back at the brand’s Instagram account shows several Dunkin’ doughnuts that appear to feature the pink and orange D-shaped sprinkles. The same sprinkles were also included in an October 2020 Instagram post teasing Dunkin’s Halloween DIY doughnut decorating kit.
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Ultimately, Cindysnacks’ owners said they “were not given satisfactory answers nor evidence and in that moment knew deep down how bad this was.”
According to their post, they scoured the internet for sprinkles that resembled those on the doughnut and ordered some from a brand The Savory Fig allegedly claimed to have used, only to find that they weren’t a match.
Next, they ordered an at-home gluten test and discovered that “at the very least, this donut … contain[ed] substantial amounts of gluten,” Cindysnacks alleged. “We can only assume, given this recognizable logo design, where these donuts really came from and what other ingredients they might contain.”
Cindysnacks and The Savory Fig did not respond to requests for comment — the latter appears to have deleted its Instagram account. In an update Tuesday, Cindysnacks said it will not grant interviews or issue any public statements on the matter, “as we don’t feel this will serve our mission.”
The market added that it has contacted the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Food Safety and Inspection, which will launch an investigation into the incident. Cindysnacks’ owners have also reportedly reached out to the Department of Health Services in New York’s Suffolk County.
In its original post, Cindysnacks said it has since “cut all personal and business ties” with The Savory Fig’s owner.
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“We are mortified that we provided any of her products to our customers and our own family,” the market wrote. “We trusted a well-known, highly recommended vegan and gluten free baker who has claimed to be working as a pastry chef for over 15 years.”
Cindysnacks described the alleged incident as a breach of trust and respect.
“We want all of our customers and community to know we take this betrayal extremely seriously and are looking into legal action,” Cindysnacks said. “We will update with any proceedings as they come. Most importantly, we want to apologize from the depths of our soul to anyone who unknowingly consumed these products.”
The owners added: “This is our nightmare come true and none of you deserved this level of disgusting perjury.”
How can you tell a Dunkin' doughnut from all the others?
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