Krispy Kreme Is Giving COVID-Vaccinated Customers Free Doughnuts—For a Year
UPDATE—March 28, 2021, at 1:05 p.m. E.T.: The Krispe Kreme CEO has responded to the backlash to the company's free doughnut for vaccinated patrons policy.
“We're a sweet treat company, [and] if folks don't want to visit a doughnut shop, they don't have to,” CEO Mike Tattersfield told Yahoo! Finance, adding if “folks that want to get a vaccine, if they decide to combine a Krispy Kreme pickup [for] a doughnut, they can. That's how we look at it.... Generosity.”
UPDATE—March 24, 2021, at 1:15 p.m. E.T.: After Krispy Kreme announced its sweet little promotion, many of us assumed there would be backlash from anti-vaxxers…but no! The controversy is actually from so-called health experts who say that getting the vaccine is a good thing, but eating doughnuts is bad for you. Sigh. America.
Take CNN contributor Dr. Leana Wen, for instance, who tweeted a thread, asking Krispy Kreme to change its promotion so that it was more like a giveaway. Vaccinated Americans could bring a box to work or to a homeless shelter, rather than indulge themselves every day. She noted that “doughnuts are a treat that's not good for health if eaten every day,” and cited a statistic about weight gain as a possible side effect.
Whatever her intentions, people in the replies were very unhappy by the suggestion that a little indulgence is to be feared.
After all, everybody already knows doughnuts aren't a health food. There's no one alive eating them for their nutritional value. You either make the choice to have a treat or you don't, but medical professionals constantly repeating, “Sugar isn't good for you,” is, um, pretty unhelpful. And it subtly reinforces the common belief that obesity is linked to ignorance, when in reality it's so much more complicated than that.
In fact, comments like Dr. Wen's can contribute to the culture and mindset of eating disorders, wherein certain food groups are viewed as “bad” when really, food has no moral value.
ORIGINAL STORY—March 22, 2021 at 12:24 p.m. E.T.: Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts to anyone who shows their COVID-19 vaccine card. For a year.
Starting March 22, all you need is a COVID-19 vaccination card (stickers don't count!) to get one free original glazed doughnut from a participating retailer. According to the company's promotions page, the rules are simple and straightforward: You have to show your own vaccination card, you can't redeem on someone else's behalf, and the limit is one per customer per day. And don't worry: Since the vaccine card contains sensitive medical information, the employees won't be documenting anything. Of course, that then allows people to take advantage of this offer by hitting up multiple Krispy Kremes in a day, but I digress. (Don't be that person!)
The qualifying vaccines at the moment are the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson shots, and you need to have received only your first dose (if it's a two-dose vaccination) to participate. If you choose not to get the vaccine, Krispy Kreme is still offering goodies for a limited period of time.
“We understand that choosing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is a highly personal decision,” Krispy Kreme's website reads. “We advise all employees and guests to consult with their health care provider regarding whether to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination and which vaccine to receive after reviewing the available information. If you have made the personal decision to not receive the COVID vaccine, please visit us on Mondays, 3/29/21–5/24/21, to receive a free Original Glazed® doughnut and a medium brewed coffee to get your week off to a good start.”
For those who are vaccinated, the offer extends through the end of 2021. And while this isn't in the official rules, we must insist that everyone snagging their free doughnut mask up, tip well, and be so, so courteous to the Krispy Kreme employees. You doughnut wanna be a jerk.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
