Food Lion continues to put their workers and customers at risk by ignoring government mandates in several states requiring face coverings in retail stores. Sign this petition to demand they change this policy.

Food Lion policy, as it currently stands, does not require their customers to wear masks. Food Lion's official stance is that they will "follow guidance from local, state and national health authorities including the CDC". Despite the North Carolina government’s mandate of face covering in retail stores, Food Lion has still not made face coverings an enforced requirement in their stores (i.e. they ask people to wear a mask, but stop short of refusing service if people do not abide by this “requirement”). Similar mask mandates have been made in other states where Food Lion operates, but Food Lion continues to not enforce the mandate even after it has been sanctioned by state governments (and recommended by the CDC).

Signing this petition is a call to action for Food Lion to do more to protect their workers and our community.

Food Lion must enact a company policy that:

A) Enforces the facial covering mandate by empowering managers to refuse service to individuals who refuse to wear face coverings.

B) Makes masks readily available to customers who do not have one.

This workplace safety measure is in no way novel or unprecedented. Currently, Costco, Whole Foods and many other companies (including grocers like Target, Walmart, and Kroger) have enforced policies that require their customers to wear face coverings at all times. If Food Lion cares about the health and well-being of their employees and customers, they would act accordingly and mandate face coverings.

It's possible that Food Lion has not done the right thing here because they are concerned about a small but vocal minority of people who will complain about a mask mandate, despite wide support of a national mask mandate. However, Food Lion must have the courage to do the right thing even if they will be criticized. This is especially true when doing the right thing can save the lives of their customers and employees. They cannot allow their policies to jeopardize public health because of a misinformed and/or unethical minority of people. 

This change in policy is vital given that COVID-19 in North Carolina is still not under control. Furthermore, there are several news reports across North Carolina of Food Lion employees testing positive for COVID-19. Food Lion must protect their workers and do everything in their power to mitigate the risk of community spread during the COVID-19 pandemic.