The company that previously handled security for the Millburn-Union store has been replaced, a spokesman said.
The company that previously handled security for the Millburn-Union store has been replaced, a spokesman said. File photo. (Jessica Remo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)VAUXHALL -- A security company that detained an elderly woman and banned her from all of the Whole Foods locations in the tri-state area after she walked out of the store with some cheese left in her cart has been fired, a store spokesman said Monday.
"As promised, we've reviewed our security procedures for the store and the firm we previously contracted with has been removed and replaced," Michael Sinatra, a spokesman for the company, said in an email to NJ Advance Media.
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He did not respond to questions asking what firm the store had previously contracted with, or if the swap would affect other Whole Foods locations.
The change comes after a social media frenzy erupted at the news of a 70-year-old woman, who reportedly said she was detained by store security and banned after accidentally walking out of the store with the cheese. The woman had checked out already, and didn't notice the cheese under her bag in the cart, she told TAPintoSOMA.com.
After locals reacted violently to the situation on social media, the Millburn-Union store released a statement apologizing for the incident. Sinatra said Monday that the company has reached out to the woman, Margaret Dooley of Maplewood, but has not yet heard back from her.
"We welcome her call and hope to make this situation right," he said.
Dooley has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
