CAMDEN, N.J.Responding to customer complaints over ham sandwiches, Starbucks is seeking nearly $5 million in a lawsuit that has been transferred to federal court.
Starbucks contends that is was duped into believing Harrison, N.J.-based Wellshire Farms Inc. was providing Black Forest ham for use in breakfast and lunch sandwiches when in fact another company, Hahn Bros. Inc., was supplying the meat, the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, N.J. reported.
Wellshire reportedly denied any wrongdoing. Maryland-based Hahn Bros could not be reached late today for comment.
The coffee chain is said to have investigated the ham's source after customers complained about its discoloring, taste and spoiled appearance.
"Starbucks, however, did not know, and Wellshire failed to reveal, the fact that the ham with Wellshire's name on it was actually produced (by Hahn)," the Courier-Post quoted the lawsuit as declaring.
Starbucks is claiming losses of more than $4.8 million.
According to the Courier-Post, the lawsuit was transferred Monday to federal court in Camden several months after Starbucks originally filed the complaint in its home state of Washington.