Ford Reinstates Veteran Worker After Wrongful Cookie Theft Accusation

Ford has offered Kurt Krum, a longtime employee at its Kentucky truck plant, the chance to return to his job after an internal investigation confirmed he had paid for a $1.95 cookie he was initially accused of stealing. The company stated Krum would receive full compensation for the wrongful termination, but he declined to return to work. Ultimately, Krum received two checks totaling $28,000 for about five weeks of lost wages, less than the $33,000 he expected, according to the Miami Herald.

The incident began during a night shift on May 9, when Krum purchased a chocolate chip cookie at the plant cafeteria after feeling dizzy from low blood sugar. A payment terminal initially showed the transaction as failed, leading to his firing. A week later, Krum was summoned by two managers, accused of not paying for the snack, and escorted off the premises without retrieving his personal belongings. On May 20, Krum shared screenshots of his debit card transaction, but Ford requested notarized bank records. Confirmation from the cafeteria operator only arrived on June 12, verifying the cookie was paid for.

Ford spokeswoman Jessica Inok commented on the case, saying, "We don’t discuss individual cases, but sometimes we review situations and realize they could have been handled differently. When that happens, we try to make it right. We value our employees and want to be as fair as possible." Krum, 60, has worked at the Louisville facility for 11 years. He explained that the self-checkout kiosk initially rejected the payment before accepting it on a second attempt. He also noted that in 2025 he worked about 60 hours per week earning over $200,000 annually. Krum questioned why he would risk his job over a cheap snack, stating, "I spent $1,200 last year in the cafeteria, mostly on Diet Coke."