A Whole Foods store has removed "disgraceful" signs which urged customers not to give money or food to homeless people sleeping nearby.
The signs at the organic and eco-friendly store claimed the well-meaning actions were “encouraging theft, aggressive behaviour and substance abuse”.
The message, which according to the Hackney Gazette was also posted on tills inside the shop, asked customers to consider donating to a local homelessness charity “before handing over any money to anyone outside our store”.
Regulars at the shop in Stoke Newington were up in arms about the posters and branded them “disgraceful” and “degrading”.
One 27-year-old woman posted a picture of the sign at the store in Church Street on Facebook and said it had put her off using the chain.
She told the Standard: “When I first saw them, I was absolutely outraged.
“To make that link between people giving the homeless money and substance abuse so flippantly is absurd.
“I posted it on Facebook and a lot of people shared my views. People are upset about this, it’s not a way to treat other human beings.”
“There are other similar places around and I would look to shop elsewhere now,” she added.
Another resident Cat Cook, 24, said: “It’s disgraceful to paint all homeless people with the same brush.
“These people are humans who are the most unfortunate in society and depriving them of basic right of food from people offering it is degrading to say the least.”
A spokesman for Whole Foods told the Standard that the signs had been removed following complaints from customers.
The chain, which is owned by Amazon, pledged to provide staff with guidance on how to support local homelessness charities.
He said: “We agree that the signs should not have been made and have been removed.
“We are a community grocery store who takes the safety of our customers, team members and wider community very seriously and will continue to work with the local police and charities on this topic.”
