Texas Roadhouse finally responds as its servers are accused of spitting in Black customers’ food: ‘licking their fingers and touching the rolls’

Texas Roadhouse has publicly addressed viral social media allegations alleging food contamination directed at Black patrons. The chain called the claims baseless while confirming an internal review of the matter. “We are aware of the video that is being shared with an accusation that has been made toward our restaurants,” the company said in a statement reported by Atlanta Black Star.

The restaurant chain said, “We believe it to be completely unfounded and we take every accusation toward our brand seriously.” Texas Roadhouse also said the franchise remained committed to treating every guest with “respect, dignity, and the Legendary Service they deserve.”

The orginal poster admitted it was a hoax.

The controversy began with a viral post that claimed white restaurant servers belonged to a Facebook group. According to the post, the members discussed targeting Black customers. The unverified allegations specifically named Texas Roadhouse and Logan’s Roadhouse.

The post alleged that servers used unmonitored kitchen areas to tamper with meals. It specifically claimed that staff touched dinner rolls after licking their fingers.

The post also claimed that some cooks contaminated dinner rolls served at Texas Roadhouse or Logan’s Roadhouse with saliva. It alleged that they participated in the conduct as part of the same alleged scheme.

The original post was later deleted. Atlanta Black Star reported that it could not independently verify the alleged Facebook group’s existence.

Screenshots and claims about the alleged post then spread across social media. An X user, @yannaarose_, wrote that a group of more than 400,000 white members who worked as servers at Texas Roadhouse and Logan’s Roadhouse were allegedly “spitting in black peoples food.”

“They are also licking their fingers and touching the rolls,” the user wrote in the post. The X user who initially amplified the post, @yannaarose_, later retracted the claims. Calling the incident a hoax, she apologized to her followers and acknowledged posting the story without verification, according to IBTimes UK.

Texas Roadhouse had also issued an earlier statement addressing its standards for employee conduct. The company said it does not tolerate “discrimination, harassment, or mistreatment of any kind” and expects its employees to treat guests with care, according to Atlanta Black Star.

As of Aug. 24, no specific Texas Roadhouse employee, restaurant location or verified food-tampering incident had been publicly identified in connection with the viral claims. As of Aug. 24, Logan’s Roadhouse, also named in the alleged post, had not publicly addressed the claims.