A bunch of leftist activists criticized Whole Foods on social media for its initiative to provide food to individuals protecting the streets of Baltimore during the riots.
The Whole Foods Market Harbor East store announced on Facebook and Instagram that the store is joining forces with the Mt. Washington location to provide food to the National Guard: “We teamed up with Whole Foods Market Mt. Washington to make sandwiches for the men and women keeping Baltimore safe. We are so thankful to have them here and they’re pumped for Turkey & Cheese!”
The post included a photo of National Guard members holding bags advertising Whole Foods.
But that upset some people, and they took to social media to express their disapproval with the decision:
This is tone-deaf, especially when thousands of school kids in Baltimore need lunch, @WholeFoods. #TWiBNation https://t.co/lSlQI2FGz9
— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) April 28, 2015
As Baltimore's poorest kids are left hungry due to school closure (no school lunch), @WholeFoods feeds the oppressor https://t.co/5maDJK5crX
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) April 28, 2015
Who in @WholeFoods management thought the National Guard was going to go hungry without donated food as opposed to the 70K not in school?
— Stacey E. Singleton (@staceyNYCDC) April 28, 2015
Wait, they closed Baltimore schools – a place where kids relied on meals – and @WholeFoods chose to feed the Nat'l Guard instead? Whewwwwwww
— Old Spickory (@Hozay__) April 28, 2015
Hey @WholeFoods will yall also be sending food to all the black kids without in Baltimore? Or is this just a "state-violence" themed thing?
— rell (@Awkward_Duck) April 28, 2015
Many of the individuals deriding Whole Foods were upset that the grocery stores were offering food to the National Guard, while low-income students in Baltimore were unable to receive subsidized lunch because of school cancellations.
As a result of the outrage, Whole Foods removed the posts from Facebook and Instagram.
Katie Malloy, a spokeswoman for Whole Foods, told ABC News, “[W]e removed the post because it did not accurately reflect all our local stores are doing to feed people across this city, especially children.”
“Again, we love our community, and will continue to support our city in the days to come, as we always do, and extend our heartfelt sympathy to those affected,” she added.