Cousins! Dunkin’ Donuts is currently facing a hefty lawsuit following complaints of the coffee franchise discriminating against lactose-intolerant consumers and upcharging for non-dairy milk!
According to USA Today, the multi-million dollar suit was filed on December 26th. The complaint forwards details of customers that ordee non-dairy alternatives such as soy, almond or oat milk, must pay around $2.15 extra.
Lawyers representing a total of ten plaintiffs who either suffer from milk allergies or are lactose intolerant argue that the extra charges are a form of discrimination that goes against the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the issued lawsuit, 12% of the population nationwide suffers from lactose intolerance, oppose to the 15 million people in the U.S. who have a milk or dairy allergy.
“Dunkin’, earned $250 million in revenue between 2018 and 2023, has made substantial profits after it “created a separate, higher-priced menu, aimed at customers who cannot ingest milk,” reads court documents obtained by the outlet. “It goes on to argue that there exists “no material difference between the price of lactose-containing milks and the price of Non-Dairy Alternatives.”
Dunkin’ has until March 4 to respond to the complaint, court records show, reports USA Today.
Sources confirm that the U.S. District Court in Northern California class action lawsuit is seeking $5 million in damages from Dunkin’ for customers who have requested non-dairy substitutions.
“Dunkin’s policy of charging all customers a surcharge for non-dairy milks disproportionately affects persons with lactose intolerance and milk allergies,” reads a statement from Bogdan Enica, to USA TODAY. “The only choice for this group of people is to pay the surcharge.”
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