State officials are investigating a vegan Long Island bakery that has gone viral for allegedly trying to pass off doughnuts from Dunkin’ as their own, gluten-free treats.
CindySnacks, a specialty vegan grocer in Huntington, accused one of its vendors, The Savory Fig, of supplying it with non-vegan doughnuts tainted with allergens that it didn’t even cook in a March 4 Instagram post.
The post included a photo of a strawberry frosted doughnut covered in tiny, purple and orange-colored “D’s” that looked suspiciously similar to the doughnut and sprinkles found at Dunkin’ Donuts — which contain dairy and gluten.
“I immediately became concerned as to why this one donut was decorated differently than all the others and in such a strikingly similar way to a recognizable chain,” CindySnacks co-owner Jonathan Stengel wrote in the post.
“I pulled all of the items delivered out of our racks immediately and stored them in the back out of precaution until I could confirm what was or wasn’t happening here.”
Stengel shared a text message exchange with The Savory Fig owner Michelle Siriani expressing his concern about the donuts.
“If these are Dunkin’ Donuts the ingredients could kill somebody as we have so many ppl with severe dairy allergies that shop here,” Stengel wrote, adding that he would keep the conversation private if she fessed up.
Siriani responded that the doughnut was “definitely not” from Dunkin’.
Still unconvinced, Stengel and his partner Cindy Kay bought an EZ Gluten home-testing kit for the pastry — which revealed a “high positive” result for gluten, according to photos shared in the post.
“We have cut all personal and business ties with this person effective immediately. We are mortified that we provided any of her products to our customers and our own family. We trusted a well-known, highly recommended vegan and gluten free baker,” Stengel said in the post.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, which is responsible for food safety inspections, confirmed to Newsday that it has received a number of complaints about The Savory Fig and would be probing the latest incident.
The bakery is registered as a home processing business based out of Patchogue.
Home processors are exempt from obtaining food processing and retail food store licenses, according to the department. They are, however, required to register with the state and follow its guidelines — including identifying allergens like gluten in their products.
Siriani told NewsDay that CindySnacks’ Instagram post was “untrue” and denied that the pastry pictured was hers.
“That was not my doughnut,” she said.
