Dunkin' controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Proposed class action filed against Dunkin' over Dunkin' Zero zero-sugar claims
Lawsuit filed
Illinois resident Phyllis C. Wells filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Dunkin' alleging that its Dunkin' Zero energy drinks, marketed as zero sugar, contain significant amounts of the sweetener allulose, which she says still counts as sugar under federal labeling rules; the complaint says medium drinks contain about 9 grams of allulose and large ones about 11 to 13 grams. Wells seeks a nationwide class of Dunkin' Zero buyers since the line launched on March 4, 2026, plus an Illinois subclass, and asks for damages, restitution, fees, and an order stopping the zero-sugar marketing or requiring corrective disclosures. No class has been certified and the allegations have not been tested.
Source excerpt
The complaint, filed by Illinois resident Phyllis C. Wells, alleges the lightly carbonated beverages contain significant amounts of a sweetener called allulose — a substance she says still counts as sugar under federal labeling rules, even though Dunkin' marketed the drinks as zero sugar.
A Chicago-area Dunkin' customer has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit claiming the chain's Dunkin' Zero energy drinks aren't nearly as sugar-free as their name suggests.
2021
Dunkin comments on coffee-spill lawsuit involving a franchise
Company response
Dunkin' responded to a report about a lawsuit filed against a Dunkin' franchise and its employees over an alleged hot-coffee spill. The company declined to comment because the litigation was pending, and stated that guest safety and well-being are a priority. Dunkin' also said that it was not named as a defendant in the case. The response addressed only the reported lawsuit involving the franchise and did not provide further details about the allegations or the parties involved.
In response to a report about a lawsuit against a Dunkin' franchise and employees over an alleged hot-coffee spill, Dunkin' declined to comment due to pending litigation and stated that guest safety and well-being are a priority. The chain said it was not named as a defendant.
Company response
Clarification — Dunkin'
Dunkin' declined to comment on the matter due to pending litigation, but said "the safety and well-being of our guests is a priority."
Source excerpt
The chain also confirmed it is not named as a defendant in this case.
Dunkin' declined to comment on the matter due to pending litigation, but said "the safety and well-being of our guests is a priority."
2021
Customer sues Dunkin’ over alleged hot-coffee spill injuries
Lawsuit filed
In 2021, Leonard Allen filed a lawsuit against Dunkin’ Donuts and two employees over injuries he said he sustained when hot coffee spilled into his lap at a drive-thru. The suit alleges that an employee negligently failed to secure the cup and lid. The report presents these as allegations and does not establish a court finding on the matter.
Leonard Allen sued Dunkin’ Donuts and two employees over injuries he says he sustained when hot coffee spilled into his lap at a drive-thru. His suit alleges that an employee negligently failed to secure the cup and lid; the article reports the allegations and does not establish a court finding.
Source excerpt
A coffee drinker in Vineland, N.J. is suing Dunkin’ Donuts over injuries he says he sustained at a drive-thru, where “scalding hot” coffee ended up in his lap.
Allen’s suit alleges the employee acted with negligence where she “failed to properly secure the cup and lid of the beverage.”
While we are not able to comment on pending litigation against a franchisee, we can confirm Dunkin’ is not named as a defendant in this case.
2020
Cybersecurity settlement with New York
A settlement required Dunkin' to notify affected customers, refund unauthorized stored-value-card use, improve safeguards and incident-response procedures, and pay $650,000 in penalties and costs. The matter remained one of the brand's most significant legal and reputational controversies of the 2010s.
2019
Customer-account cyberattack lawsuit
The New York Attorney General sued Dunkin' over alleged failures to respond appropriately to credential-stuffing attacks affecting customer loyalty accounts in 2015 and 2018. The allegations included inadequate investigation, delayed or insufficient notification, and failure to take sufficient measures to prevent repeated attacks.
2019
New York sues Dunkin’ Donuts over data breach disclosure
Lawsuit filed
In 2019, New York sued Dunkin’ Donuts, alleging that the company failed to protect customers and did not disclose cyberattacks affecting its DD Perks loyalty program. The reported allegations concern the handling of the attacks and the information provided about them. The coverage presents the claims made in the lawsuit and does not establish a court determination on the matter. No further details on the proceedings or their outcome are provided in the source.
Source excerpt
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, full restitution to customers, civil penalties, and other remedies.
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a lawsuit against Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. — franchisor of Dunkin’ Donuts — for failing to protect thousands of customers targeted in a series of cyberattacks.
The lawsuit also alleges that Dunkin’ violated New York’s consumer protection laws, including Executive Law § 63(12), and General Business Law §§ 349 and 350, by misrepresenting to consumers that it provided reasonable safeguards to protect customers’ personal information when they first signed up for an account.
2019
New York Attorney General sues Dunkin' over customer account attacks
Lawsuit filed
In 2019, the New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Dunkin'. The suit alleged that the company's cybersecurity was lax, allowing thousands of customers to have money stolen from accounts linked to its smartphone app. The action concerned attacks on customer accounts associated with the app. The filing stated that inadequate cybersecurity protections enabled the theft of funds from accounts tied to the Dunkin' smartphone application.
The New York Attorney General sued Dunkin', alleging lax cybersecurity allowed thousands of customers to have money stolen from accounts linked to the company's smartphone app.
Source excerpt
Sept. 27, 2019
The NY Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of violating the state's data breach notification statute.
Dunkin', James said, failed to notify customers and authorities of a data breach that happened in 2015 and to accurately notify consumers about about the state of their accounts in another series of cyberattacks in 2018.
2008
Rachael Ray scarf advertisement controversy
Dunkin' withdrew an online advertisement featuring Rachael Ray after commentators argued that her black-and-white fringed scarf resembled a keffiyeh and could be read as a political or pro-terrorism symbol. The company said the advertisement was removed because of the controversy surrounding the imagery.