Sunita Somvanshi
A former chicken supplier has filed a lawsuit against Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, claiming the fast-food chain’s Ontario franchisees bought chicken stored in residential garages. The lawsuit, filed May 26 at the Ontario Superior Court, paints a troubling picture of food safety practices.
ADP Direct Poultry Ltd., which previously supplied chicken to Popeyes, claims it lost its contract after raising concerns about franchisees buying from an unauthorized supplier called Amjad Farooq Inc.
“The defendants’ conduct was malicious, high handed, intended to cause harm to ADP, endangered the public, and warrants aggravated and punitive damages,” states the lawsuit filing.
The most alarming claim is that raw chicken was stored in home garages without proper temperature control. Food safety guidelines require raw chicken to be kept at 4°C or below. The lawsuit also alleges the chicken was sometimes “rotten or expired” and delivered in vehicles without proper refrigeration.
“The unauthorized supplier that allegedly provided, at times, rotten or expired chicken deemed unfit for human consumption to various franchisees across Ontario,” the court documents state, adding this created a “public health risk.”
Popeyes strongly denies these allegations.
“We believe this former supplier is lashing out after losing our business for a variety of legitimate reasons,” said Emily Ciantra, Popeyes’ director of communications. “We have always been committed to rigorous safety standards, including regular inspections by third party auditors.”
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The lawsuit claims franchisees chose the unauthorized supplier because it offered lower prices. Even more concerning, it alleges they continued selling this chicken after being notified of food safety issues.
Under Popeyes’ rules, franchisees must buy from approved suppliers who meet the company’s standards. Any restaurant wanting to use a different supplier needs formal approval following inspections.
ADP claims the chicken from the unauthorized supplier wasn’t inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) or any regulatory body. The CFIA told CTV News it doesn’t inspect restaurants directly but would investigate if a federally regulated food product might pose a health risk.
ADP is seeking $35 million from Popeyes, its parent company Restaurant Brands International, and Restaurant Services Canada Inc. The supplier wants an additional $10 million from the unauthorized company and $150,000 from each franchisee involved.
None of these allegations have been proven in court.
The lawsuit highlights the importance of proper food handling in the restaurant industry and the potential risks when safety protocols aren’t followed.
