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Restaurants Say Recipes Were Stolen

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The Associated Press

Published: September 14, 2007

Updated: 09/13/2007 11:11 pm

SANFORD - A Florida Chinese restaurant chain is suing chicken giant Perdue Farms alleging the company stole its General Tso's and bourbon chicken recipes.

Longwood-based Food Systems Unlimited operates 67 fast-food stores in 15 states.

The company claims Perdue, based in Salisbury, Md., cheated it out of more than $100 million by taking its recipes while the companies were negotiating for Perdue to manufacture chicken dishes for Longwood's mall stores.

'They took our recipe, our client's recipe, and changed it around enough, I think, they felt they would not be subject to litigation and took it to market,' said Hans Kennon, Food Systems' attorney.
Kennon filed the Circuit Court suit this month.

Perdue denies the charges.

Julie DeYoung, a Perdue spokeswoman, said the recipes were developed by a division that had nothing to do with the Food Systems' negotiations. Perdue Farms distributes its General Tso's and bourbon chicken in grocery stores.

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