Top 10 Fast Food Scams Exposed

Top 10 Fast Food Scams Exposed

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Burger King's Croissan'wich Controversy
3. McDonald's Extra Value Meals Lawsuit
4. Chipotle's Calories Controversy
5. Dunkin' Donuts' Imposter Ingredients Lawsuits
6. Jimmy John's Sprout Fiasco
7. McDonald's French Fry Cheat
8. Subway's "Footlong" Debate
9. Conclusion

Burger King's Croissan'wich Controversy

When it comes to fast food, customers expect quick service and affordable meals. However, there have been instances where fast food restaurants have cheated their customers. One such case involves Burger King and their Croissan'wich. A class action lawsuit was filed in Maryland claiming that customers using a Buy One, Get One coupon for the Croissan'wich were being charged an inflated price. The plaintiff, Koleta Anderson, stated that she was charged $3.19 for a single sandwich with the coupon, whereas without the coupon, the price was $2.16. This price discrepancy was not an isolated incident, as Anderson and her lawyer discovered similar overcharges at other Burger King locations. The controversy eventually led to a settlement, with Burger King offering $2 and $5 gift cards to affected customers.

McDonald's Extra Value Meals Lawsuit

The concept of Extra Value Meals is that they provide convenience and cost savings compared to ordering individual components. However, an Illinois lawsuit filed in 2016 challenged this notion. The plaintiff, James Gertie, alleged that he was paying more for his Extra Value Meal than what the components would cost individually. For instance, he claimed that a meal priced at $5.90 was more expensive than ordering two cheeseburgers, medium fries, and a medium soft drink separately, which amounted to $5.49. Gertie filed the lawsuit not solely for the money but to highlight the principle of true advertising. The case is still ongoing with no verdict reached as of early 2018.

Chipotle's Calories Controversy

Chipotle prides itself on offering fresh ingredients and promoting a healthier dining experience. However, a class action lawsuit filed in California raised concerns about incomplete nutritional information provided by the chain. The lawsuit alleged that Chipotle was misleading customers by displaying a menu board indicating that a chorizo burrito contained only 300 calories. In reality, the nutrition calculator on Chipotle's website revealed that the burrito had a total calorie count of 930 when combined with white rice and black beans. California law requires restaurants to provide complete nutritional information, creating a potential issue for Chipotle. While the lawsuit is ongoing, Chipotle no longer offers chorizo burritos and has introduced queso instead.

Dunkin' Donuts' Imposter Ingredients Lawsuits

Dunkin' Donuts, known for its coffee and donuts, faced three different lawsuits in 2017, all alleging the use of bogus replacement ingredients. One lawsuit in Massachusetts claimed that customers at 20 locations were served margarine or butter substitutes instead of real butter, even when they specifically requested it. In New York, a lawsuit accused Dunkin' Donuts of using ground beef instead of steak in their steak-and-egg sandwiches. Additionally, another class action lawsuit was filed against the company for products labeled as "blueberry" that did not contain any actual blueberries but instead used sugary "flavored crystals." These lawsuits brought the imposter ingredients practices of Dunkin' Donuts into the spotlight.

Jimmy John's Sprout Fiasco

In 2014, a disgruntled customer sued Jimmy John's because she did not receive alfalfa sprouts with her order, despite them being listed on the menu. This incident stemmed from an E. Coli outbreak in 2012 that was traced back to sprouts served at various establishments, including Jimmy John's. The company removed alfalfa sprouts from their menu but neglected to update their menus to reflect this change. While Jimmy John's denied any wrongdoing, they settled the lawsuit and offered vouchers worth $1.40 to unhappy customers that could be redeemed for any side item or soft drink, except for sprouts.

McDonald's French Fry Cheat

Have you ever felt like your McDonald's French fry order was lacking in quantity? According to some McDonald's employees who have shared their experiences on Reddit, there might be a reason for that. Allegedly, employees were instructed to pinch the base of the cardboard carton containing the fries, making it appear fuller with fewer fries. Although customers have occasionally called out this deceptive practice, a McDonald's representative denied the existence of any such policy. The veracity of these claims remains unproven, leaving consumers to rely on their own judgment.

Subway's "Footlong" Debate

In 2013, a customer at a Subway in Australia posted a photo of his "footlong" sub next to a tape measure, revealing that it measured only 11 inches instead of the advertised 12 inches. This sparked outrage online, leading to a class action lawsuit against Subway. However, it was discovered that the discrepancy in size was due to the nature of baking bread, which affects the final length. As all loaves start from the same amount of dough, Subway couldn't guarantee an exact 12-inch length for each sandwich. Despite this explanation, Subway settled the lawsuit for $525,000. However, one plaintiff chose to keep the case alive, which led to its eventual dismissal in August 2017. The courts determined that the lawsuit was frivolous, emphasizing that despite the inch difference, customers were still receiving their money's worth.

Conclusion

While fast food restaurants strive to meet customer expectations of fast, affordable meals, there have been instances where customers felt cheated. From price inflation to misleading nutritional information and ingredient substitutions, these controversies highlight the importance of transparency and fair practices. Fast food chains need to ensure that their customers receive what they pay for and can trust the claims made in advertisements.