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A Dunkin’ employee has sparked an online backlash after being filmed washing his feet in a sink at one of the chain’s locations aboard a Staten Island Ferry.
The footage has now prompted an investigation by New York City’s Health Department, according to new reports.
An eyewitness reportedly spotted the worker behind the counter with his feet in the sink, using the water to wash them. The person filming the incident described the sight as “disgusting.”
The video was uploaded to TikTok on August 11 and quickly spread across social media, where viewers reacted with a mixture of shock and jokes.
One commenter asked: “Would you like feet with your doughnut?”
Another quipped: “Is he on feet finder?”
A third joked: “Who needs a foot spa when you’ve got Dunkin’ Donut?”
The footage appears to show the worker carrying out wudu, an Islamic ritual of washing performed before prayer.
Wudu involves cleansing specific parts of the body, including the hands, face, arms and feet, in a particular order as part of religious purification.
Muslims commonly perform wudu before the five daily prayers, known as salah, although it can also be carried out before other religious practices, including reading or handling the Quran.
The religious practice itself was not necessarily what prompted the online criticism.
Instead, many viewers questioned why the ritual appeared to have been carried out inside a commercial food-preparation area, with the employee washing his feet just a short distance from where food was being prepared.
One commenter wrote: “Religion or not, washing your feet a few inches away from the food area is wild. There has to be a better way. Mamdani, find this man a better religious accommodation.”
The New York City Health Department has now addressed the viral footage, stressing that food businesses are required to follow strict hygiene regulations.
In a statement, the department told The Post: “The NYC Health Department promotes the safety of food served in the city’s restaurants so New Yorkers and visitors can dine without fear of becoming ill. Restaurants are required to follow food safety requirements.”
The New York City Department of Transportation also confirmed that it was looking into the incident.
A spokesperson said the agency “is reviewing and will take appropriate action.”
Dunkin’ had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
The video continues to circulate online, with the incident raising questions over how religious practices can be accommodated in workplaces while maintaining appropriate food-safety and hygiene standards.
