(Reuters)
An employee at a Virginia Dunkin’ Donuts location has been fired after teenagers told police they had been served donuts sprayed with a cleaning solution that contained bleach.
Fairfax County police were called to a store in Oakton, Va. on Monday night after receiving reports of an assault, reports FOX 5. After the officers arrived, they spoke with several teenagers at the scene who alleged that employees at the Chain Bridge Road location had previously given out unsold donuts at the end of the day. When the group went back to the store on July 25 to ask for free donuts later, an employee reportedly told them no multiple times but eventually relented and told the teens to come back that evening.
But before handing the day’s leftover pastries to the group, the employee allegedly sprayed them with a chemical cleaning agent. According to the police report, some of the teens consumed just a bite of the poisoned donuts, others consumed whole pastries.
Once the teens realized the food may have been contaminated, the police were called to the scene.
None of the teens who ate the bleach-sprayed donuts required medical attention but police have launched a criminal investigation.
Dunkin' Donuts says they have since fired the employee in question and released a statement on the incident:
“At Dunkin' Donuts restaurants, the safety and well-being of customers is a top priority and we have stringent food safety standards for all restaurants. We are aware of the incident involving a crew member at a Dunkin' Donuts franchise in Oakton, Virginia. In this instance, we have been informed by the franchise owner that he has terminated the employee involved and is cooperating fully with the local authorities. As this is a pending police matter, it is inappropriate for us to comment further and, as such, any additional questions can be directed to the police department."
As of Friday, the employee has not been charged but the investigation is ongoing.
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