Starbucks is facing two lawsuits alleging that it exposed customers and employees of its selected New York City stores to poisonous pesticide toxin called Dichlorvos or DDVP.
Class Action Suits Against Starbucks
A former Starbucks employee and two pest control workers filed a lawsuit on May 21, claiming that the coffee company has, for years, allowed the use of toxic chemicals in its stores, which infused not only the food products and fixtures but also the air circulated throughout its retail locations in the city.
"Starbucks stores located throughout Manhattan — from Battery Park to upper Manhattan — continuously failed to take necessary or adequate measures to ensure their cleanliness and instead recklessly hid hazardous pesticides throughout their stores, including in close proximity to food and food preparation areas," the lawsuit filed by Rafael Fox, Jill Shwiner, and Paul D'Auria claimed. Fox was an employee of Starbucks for 16 years, while Shwiner and D'Auria work for a pest control company that regularly inspected Starbucks' branches.
The charges specifically identified Starbucks' use of the Hot Shot No-Pest 2 strips, which, according to the Hot Shot website, should not be used in kitchens, restaurants, or areas where food is prepared or served. The lawsuit claimed that the pest strip is meant to be used only in unoccupied structures to get rid of vermin, bugs, and insects. However, Starbucks still used the pest strips in several of its Manhattan stores with the knowledge of its regional and district managers.
"New Yorkers deserve to know what they are putting in their bodies and we call upon Starbucks to explain, as we allege in the complaint, its failure to take appropriate care for its customers' well-being," said Atty. Douglas H. Wigdor.
In the case filed by Starbucks customers and New York residents, namely, Christopher George, Jessica Chandra, Lisa Jame, Chelsea Maley, April Boddie, Mickael Louis, Eduardo Leach, Josh Folan, Logan Vairo, and Basma Attieh, they claimed that in order to address the plague of insects that have resulted from the disgusting conditions in its Manhattan stores, many of Starbucks' employees used insecticides with active ingredient DDVP, which kills insect but is harmful to humans.
In the said case filed at a state court in Manhattan, the customers claimed that they were exposed to the toxic DDVP chemical after making purchases in multiple Starbucks stores over the last three years.
The lawsuit also alleged that instead of addressing the infestation and unsanitary condition in its stores, Starbucks has allowed its employees to use a toxic pesticide in its stores.
How Harmful Is DDVS?
Dichlorvos or 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate is a class of insecticide referred to as organophosphate. It is widely used to control household, public health, and stored product insects.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that DDVP should only be used in an enclosed space when any humans present are given a respirator or other breathing apparatus. This supports the lawsuits claiming that DDVP, particularly the No-Pest Strips, do not belong to places where food preparation or consumption activities occur.
"The toxic effects of DDVP on humans is significantly exacerbated when the chemical is ingested orally, such as when consumed through food or water. DDVP symptoms through oral exposure are much more pronounced and appear at a significantly higher rate," the lawsuit further stated.
Among the symptoms linked to exposure to DDVP include loss of bladder control, muscle tremors, labored breathing, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, muscle weakness, convulsions, and paralysis. More severe exposure to this toxin can result in coma, inability to breathe, and even death.
The Environmental Protection Agency has previously identified DDVP as a potential carcinogen, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has also found that DDVP may be anticipated to be a substance that causes cancer.
