A Long Island vegan bakery, The Savory Fig, voluntarily recalled some of its baked goods after a local vegan grocer accused them of trying to pass off a Dunkin doughnut as their own item. The owner of the bakery, Michell Siriani, denied the allegations and stated that she would never pass off a Dunkin’ Donut as gluten-free or vegan. The accusation arose when CindySnacks, a former specialty vegan grocer in Huntington, found a suspicious-looking doughnut similar to those from Dunkin’ Donuts mixed with their order from The Savory Fig.
The incident gained attention when CindySnacks posted a photo of the suspicious doughnut on Instagram. The doughnut was decorated with tiny purple and orange-colored “D’s” that resembled the sprinkles found at Dunkin’ Donuts, which contain dairy and gluten. Concerns were raised about the ingredients of the doughnut, especially the potential harm it could cause to individuals with severe dairy allergies. The co-owners of CindySnacks, Jonathan Stengel and Cindy Kay, even purchased a gluten-testing kit that confirmed a high level of gluten in the doughnut.
After the allegations went viral, Michell Siriani claimed to have been threatened and harassed, leading her to change her number and relocate. Despite this, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets did not impose fines or take any action against the bakery’s license. The Savory Fig is now working with the Department of Agriculture and has implemented a new labeling system to protect customers from allergens and cross-contamination, as well as to prevent product tampering in the future.
The bakery issued a voluntary recall of their baked items due to a possible undeclared presence of wheat gluten, soy, and/or milk allergens. The recalled items include doughnuts, frosted rolls, matcha cinnamon rolls, maple pecan oat scones, and blackberry crumb muffins. The bakery warned that individuals with food allergies or sensitivities to certain allergens could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. However, no illnesses or injuries related to the possible allergen contamination have been reported.
As a result of the controversy and allegations, CindySnacks has closed as a vegan market. The owners plan to reopen as a vegan specialty deli in Centereach, unrelated to the incident involving The Savory Fig. The closure and rebranding indicate the impact that the situation had on the vegan market, as well as the importance of transparency and integrity when it comes to food labeling and allergen information. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate labeling and transparency in the food industry to ensure the safety of consumers, particularly those with food allergies or sensitivities.
