Toenail Clippings at Dunkin’ Donuts, and the Greater Issue of Food Safety

Dunkin’ Donuts is a staple in the diet of many teenagers, and Crofton High School is lucky to have one less than a five minute walk away from our school. Every morning, teens and parents grab their morning coffee from the Dunkin’ Donuts at Staples Corner without thinking twice about it. 

Until December 2, 2024, when a video surfaced of a worker clipping their toenails behind the counter. Crofton erupted, to say the least. The video was all over social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. The news spread like wildfire, and the whole community was taken aback.

But what does this say about food safety? This worker is not an anomaly, as consistent violations of safety guidelines in the fast food industry are a common occurrence. The situation at Dunkin’ Donuts only gives a glimpse into the greater issue of food safety.

The FDA’s food safety guidelines follow a four-step process: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. The first step is the most prevalent here. The FDA says that hands should be washed thoroughly after using the restroom, handling pets, and changing diapers. While this does not explicitly say “Wash your hands after clipping your toenails”, it’s implied that hands should be washed before handling food in most, if not all cases. 

The video is only a peek into the full story, and there’s a chance that he did wash his hands after clipping his toenails. But, anyone who has ever clipped their toenails knows that those toenail clippings can go flying pretty far. Who’s to say the toenail clippings didn’t make their way into the food? 

Keeping harmful bacteria away from food is one of the most important things in the food industry, and whether or not the FDA’s guidelines are explicit in cleaning procedures, sanitation should be a priority for food companies. However, in a competitive society focused on making profit, safety is not the first priority.

This issue is systemic, and the situation at Dunkin’ Donuts is only a glimpse into the nationwide issue. With profit at the forefront of investors’ and company owners’ goals, safety and sanitation can be put on the backburner, which is more apparent than ever.

Is there really anything we can do? The short answer is no. Unless you happen to be the owner of a major food chain, there aren’t many things that you can do to aid this issue. However, there is one notable non-profit organization, the Center for Food Safety(CFS), that can help. This charity is more focused on the packaging of foods, which isn’t exactly the same issue, but overall a similar situation. Otherwise, the best that you can do for yourself is just be aware of this problem in the food industry and educate those who don’t know. Awareness is the first step in progress. 

While this situation isn’t exactly The Jungle, it is still a notable problem that generally goes unnoticed in society. So the next time you go out for food, check for toenail clippings. Who knows what you’ll find?