Millburn-Union Whole Foods Cuts Ties With Security Company; Alleged Cheese Shoplifting Turns Into Social Media Brouhaha

The Millburn-Union Whole Foods has severed ties with the security company that recently accused a senior citizen of trying to shoplift two wedges of cheese.

“In reviewing the incident, we’ve removed the firm that was formerly at the store and as of last week they’ve been replaced,” Michael Sinatra, Public Relations and Public Affairs Manager for Whole Foods Market: Northeast Region said in a statement to local media.

Sinatra did not name the fired security firm in the store’s statement.

The incident took place on Oct. 4, when store security at the Millburn-Union Whole Foods in Vauxhall accused Maplewood resident Marge Dooley of trying to walk out of the supermarket with two, unpaid-for hunks of cheeses lying under a purse in her shopping cart.

After security personnel escorted Dooley to the back of the store, questioned her and took her photo, they informed her that she would be charged with trespassing if she set foot in any Whole Foods in the Tri-State Area, The Village Green reported.

Dooley told TAPInto SOMA that she had paid for about $60 of groceries which she packed herself, and was on her way out of the store when she was stopped.

Dooley, who has no criminal record, then asked if she could purchase the cheese and was told that she could not, TAP Into reported.

• See related article: Whole Foods Apologizes After Banning Senior Accused Of Shoplifting Cheese

After news of the incident got out via social media and prompted a flood of negative comments, Whole Foods issued an official statement on the Millburn-Union store’s Facebook page on Oct. 8:

“Loss prevention is an unfortunate necessity in retail. At Whole Foods Market, we strive to achieve the right balance between loss prevention and fostering a welcoming, friendly environment in all our stores. This is an unfortunate incident and we have reached out to the shopper directly to make things right. We are also having discussions with the loss prevention company at this store to ensure they clearly understand our expectations when it comes to our customers.”

File photo via Wikimedia