We imagine that food delivery drivers see their fair share of customers under the influence of any number of legal and illegal intoxicants. But unless the customer becomes belligerent or refuses to pay, it’s pretty rare to hear about the authorities being called in. That’s why a man in Colorado is fuming mad at his Papa John’s driver. [More]
Food & Personal Care
Starbucks Barista Fired For Posting Satirical Song
By 10.3.11
Starbucks fired a barista last week after his satirical song aimed at his employer went viral. In it, the ex-barista, wearing nothing but a Starbucks smock, croons an acoustic guitar ballad about how baristas trick customers when they’re short on supplies, how rude customers stink, and the drink purchasing habits of different races. [More]
Kraft Recalls 137,000 Velveeta Shells & Cheese Cups Because Thin Pieces Of Wire Are Not Part Of Your Daily Diet
By 9.30.11
Kraft Foods has announced a recall of three varieties of Velveeta Shells & Cheese single serve microwaveable cups as a precaution due to the “possible presence of small, thin wire bristle pieces.” [More]
Zoka Coffee Responds To FDA Warning Letter
By 9.30.11
Yesterday, we reported how Seattle-based coffee seller Zoka Coffee had received a warning letter from the FDA regarding an April inspection that discovered more than a few rodent feces. After the story was posted, Zoka reached out to Consumerist to give its side of the story. [More]
FDA Warns Seattle-Based Coffee Company That Rat Poo Is Not Part Of A Seasonal Blend
By 9.29.11
UPDATE: Both Zoka and the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture have responded to Consumerist regarding the situation.
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Starbucks Customer: Excuse Me, But My Name Is Not "Bit*h"
By 9.28.11
For some reason, some folks in the food service biz never learn the lesson that they shouldn’t vent their anger at a customer by insulting them on a receipt, to-go pack or in this case, a Starbucks cup. [More]
Now You Can Pay $85 To Look Like You Spilled Starbucks On Your Shirt
By 9.27.11
Are you sick of spilling hot coffee on a white shirt and not paying an exorbitant amount of money for it? Well then you’re in luck, because Starbucks, Nordstrom and designer Alexander Wang have teamed up to sell you an $85 T-shirt, complete with a faux Starbucks stain. [More]
Burger King Selling Cheesy, Gravy-licious Poutine To Canadians, Doesn't Bother To Ask If We Want Any
By 9.27.11
Forget free health care and cool winter hats, the real reason to move to Canada is poutine, better known as french fries smothered in melted cheese and scrumptious gravy. So now that we’ve heard that Burger King was starting to offer this dish to north-of-the-border customers, we want to know: What about us? [More]
Why Did My Walmart Change The ‘Use By’ Date On My Beef?
By 9.27.11 — Updated: 11.19.13
What’s a grocery store to do when an expensive piece of beef goes unsold by the time it’s reached its “Use/Freeze By” date? Consumerist reader William believes he caught his Walmart simply slapping a new sticker with a new date on top of the old one. [More]
Bank of America Wants To Get Out Of The Pizza Business
By 9.23.11 — Updated: 10.26.17
Bank of America has decided to stop selling pizza. The bank, which operates 1,140 Pizza Hut branches through its NPC International division, has reportedly decided to sell off the business. BofA could get more than $800 million for the Pizza Hut stores. [More]
Over-The-Counter Asthma Inhalers To Vanish From Store Shelves By End Of Year
By 9.22.11
If you or someone you know uses Primatene or any other over-the-counter epinephrine inhaler for asthma, the clock is officially ticking before they disappear off store shelves. The Food and Drug Administration announced today that, in an effort to cut down on products using ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, these inhalers will no longer be available after Dec. 31. [More]
FDA Scolds Big Corn For "Corn Sugar" Ads & Websites
By 9.16.11
For more than a year, the folks at the Corn Refiners Association have been making a very public push to rebrand the controversial but widely used high fructose corn syrup as “corn sugar,” telling consumers that “sugar is sugar.” But newly uncovered correspondence between the Food and Drug Administration and Big Corn show that regulators aren’t exactly thrilled about the new name. [More]
6 E.Coli Strains Added To Beef Ban List
By 9.13.11
The government is adding six more, relatively rarer, strains of E.coli to the list of banned beef. Meat mongers are balking. [More]
Store Attempts To Dissuade Customers From Trying On Condoms Before Buying
By 9.13.11
There is already a great deal of information for consumers printed on boxes of condoms, covering everything from proper use to possible allergic reactions to effectiveness in preventing pregnancy and transmission of infectious disease. But one store felt the need to post its own advisory about condoms: That you shouldn’t crack open a box to try one on without paying. [More]
Diabetic Walgreens Staffer: I Was Fired For Eating A $1.39 Bag Of Chips Before I Paid For Them
By 9.12.11
A former San Francisco-area Walgreens worker with diabetes says she was fired from her job of nearly two decades because, feeling a hypoglycemic attacking coming, she chose to eat a $1.39 bag of potato chips before she had the chance to pay for them. [More]
I Made The Mistake Of Trying To Give Burger King Staff Some Polite Feedback
By 9.12.11
A Consumerist reader wrote in recently to tell us that not only was a refund not the issue after a small drive-thru problem at Burger King, but the fast food location didn’t even want to hear some simple feedback. [More]
Washington State Inspectors "Deeply Concerned" About Undercooked Beef At Burger King
By 9.8.11
While most people are used to the grayish, overcooked burgers often served at fast food mega-chains, inspectors for the Washington Dept. of Health have found what they call a “disturbing trend” of undercooked beef being served at Burger King. [More]
Video Released Of Walgreens Pharmacist Fired For Shooting At Armed Robber
By 9.8.11
Last May, a pharmacist at a Michigan Walgreens was dismissed from his job at the drugstore chain after he fired his own handgun at an armed robber. Now the man is suing Walgreens and his lawyers have released footage of the incident to defend their client. [More]
