<P> Dunkin' Donuts was criticized by one of its franchisees for allegedly forcing single - store owners to agree to a buyout at a loss for minor infractions . Dunkin' Donuts sued franchise owners 154 times from 2006 to April 2008 . Over the same period, McDonald's was involved in five lawsuits . Subway, a company that has four times the number of locations as Dunkin' Donuts, sued its franchisees 12 times . (These figures do not include arbitrations, which the companies use in pursuing legal claims against their franchisees .) Franchisees allege that the company's business strategy needs predominantly multi-unit franchisees, who have ample capital and are thus able to open new stores rapidly to compete with Starbucks . </P> <P> In 2009, the company temporarily stopped the sale of two of its products, the Dunkaccino and hot chocolate, after concern of a possible salmonella poisoning at a supplier's facilities . Dunkin' Donuts claims that none of the beverages were contaminated, but the recall was made out of safety for its consumers . </P> <P> In May 2010, Dunkin' Donuts was criticized for advertising "Free Iced Coffee Day" on its national Facebook page, which took place in only 13 cities . Because of the limited scope of the promotion, many customers became dissatisfied with the lack of free iced coffee and vented their anger on the Dunkin' Donuts Facebook page . </P> <P> In 2013, the Dunkin' Donuts chain in Thailand used an advertisement that contained a photograph of a woman in black face - paint, in order to promote its new chocolate flavored doughnuts . The company was criticized for the advertisement, with the Human Rights Watch calling the advertisement "bizarre and racist". The headquarters in the United States apologized for the advertisement . </P>

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