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A lawsuit has rocked Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, alleging the fast-food giant purchased “unsafe” chicken from an unauthorized supplier that stored and packaged raw meat in residential garages across Ontario, Canada.
The accusations, detailed in a lawsuit filed at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on May 26, raise serious food safety concerns and paint a very disturbing picture.
The lawsuit was filed by ADP Direct Poultry Ltd., a former raw chicken supplier to Popeyes. ADP claims they lost their contract with Popeyes after bringing forward concerns about the “unsafe supply” of products. The company is seeking $35 million in damages from Popeyes, its parent company RBI, and Restaurant Services Inc. (RSCI), citing breach of contract and violations of the Competition Act.
According to the legal documents, the unauthorized supplier allegedly provided, at times, “rotten or expired” chicken deemed “unfit for human consumption” to various Popeyes franchisees throughout Ontario.
The lawsuit further alleges that this questionable chicken was transported in vehicles lacking proper refrigeration, further increasing the risk of spoilage and contamination.
Adding to the gravity of the claims, ADP asserts that the chicken sold by the unauthorized company was not inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) or any other official inspector. This lack of oversight, if true, would bypass critical food safety protocols designed to protect consumers.
The lawsuit also implicates certain franchisees, alleging they knowingly purchased these cheaper, potentially unsafe products and continued to sell them to customers, even after ADP brought forward their concerns about health and safety standards. ADP is seeking $150,000 from each named franchisee, along with an accounting of the “unsafe supply” they bought and their profits from these unauthorized sales.
Popeyes, through its director of communications Emily Ciantra, has responded to the allegations, stating that the claims from ADP Direct Poultry Ltd. are “unfounded.” Ciantra asserted that Popeyes conducted an investigation and found “no evidence” to support the accusations. She added, “We have always been committed to rigorous safety standards, including regular inspections by third-party auditors who verify our strict standards are being followed.”
The lawsuit, suggests a more complex scenario, alleging that RSCI, rather than investigating the unsafe supply, conspired to “manufacture a rationale for removing ADP” from their authorized vendors list. It also claims that some franchisees were “upset about the reporting of the unsafe supply” and worked with RSCI to lodge “false or misleading” complaints about ADP’s product quality.
The supplier also missed out on other lucrative contracts—like those with chains such as Wendy’s—because of the unauthorized sales.
On top of that, ADP is demanding at least $10 million in damages from the company responsible, arguing it “unlawfully interfered” with ADP’s relationship with Popeyes. They’re also seeking $500,000 in aggravated damages.
ADP wants a full accounting of how many “unsafe” products they purchased from the unauthorized supplier – and how much profit they made from those sales.
According to the court filings, “The defendants’ conduct was malicious, high-handed, intended to harm ADP, endangered the public, and warrants aggravated and punitive damages.”
