Bagel water spat goes to $2M lawsuit

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 11 (UPI) -- The water that bagels are boiled in has bubbled into a $2 million lawsuit between a South Florida company and a New York franchiser.

Andrew Greenbaum, who lives in Boca Raton, is suing The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. for allegedly claiming it had a water treatment system that would transform water anywhere just like the New York borough's, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

Greenbaum bought into a bagel franchise encompassing three South Florida counties, but became unhappy with the company's claims and requirements, the newspaper said.

One of his lawyers, Robert Zarco, said the company's mandates weren't achievable.

"The [company's] water filtration system is not unique and does not render water equivalent to Brooklyn water," Zarco said. "You want Brooklyn water, go to Brooklyn. You want a Brooklyn bagel, go to Brooklyn."

Bagels are briefly boiled before being baked. Aficionados maintain water quality is critical to the process.