A former Starbucks executive is suing the coffee giant, alleging she was fired after raising serious safety and financial concerns about a new proprietary equipment system the company touted to investors as a game changer.
Janice Waszak, a longtime Starbucks executive, filed a lawsuit accusing the company of wrongful termination and sex discrimination. According to the complaint, Waszak was pushed out after warning leadership about defects in the company’s Siren System, a new in-store equipment platform Starbucks publicly promoted in 2022 as a major driver of productivity, revenue growth, and profit expansion.
Starbucks has forcefully rejected the allegations, calling them “entirely without merit.”
According to the lawsuit, Starbucks told investors the Siren System would streamline operations and significantly boost store efficiency. But Waszak claims internal testing revealed a far different reality. She alleges the system suffered from multiple defects that created health and safety risks for both customers and employees, while also raising red flags about long-term profitability.
Former Starbucks exec says she was fired after raising concerns over maggots, safety: lawsuit https://t.co/MBTkynj3ku
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) February 2, 2026
The suit claims Waszak came to believe the Siren System “might never be profitable” and could instead lead to major financial losses for the company. She further alleges she was terminated in retaliation for raising concerns about what she described as misleading statements to investors regarding the system’s safety and economic viability.
Waszak also accuses Starbucks of sex discrimination, claiming she was fired for alleged interpersonal behavior issues while male employees accused of similar conduct were not terminated.
Starbucks disputes that account. In a statement, the company said safety is a top priority and insisted Waszak was separated from the company only after an internal investigation found her conduct violated workplace policies. Starbucks said it plans to present evidence in court.
The lawsuit details a particularly alarming incident during a live demonstration of the Siren System in October 2022 at Starbucks’ Tryer Center. According to court filings, maggots fell from an overhead milk dispenser onto the counter and beverages during the demo, which was attended by district managers and regional directors. The suit alleges baristas discreetly flicked the maggots away to avoid drawing attention.
Waszak claims she later learned the maggots had bred inside the milk dispenser due to improper cleaning and that staff had already raised concerns about how difficult the system was to clean because of its complex design. She warned that the design increased the risk of future contamination and posed ongoing health hazards.
The lawsuit also points to a separate incident in September 2023, when a Siren milk dispenser caught fire during use at the Tryer Center. Starbucks later attributed the fire to a manufacturing defect involving faulty wiring. At the time, the lawsuit states, similar dispensers were already being tested in multiple Seattle-area stores.
She was right about everything and Nichols has been removing these Siren systems. Maybe he should hire her back.
Starbucks sued by former executive Janice Waszak over safety concerns | Fox Business https://t.co/4pQIhkPJZZ— Crash (@Crash21212) February 3, 2026
According to the complaint, Waszak raised these safety concerns directly with her supervisor, Vice President of Global Equipment Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, whom she had reported to since 2018.
Starbucks maintains that the claims are baseless and says it is confident the facts will support its decision once the case reaches court.
