25 Investigates: Many young shoppers allowed during ‘seniors only’ hours at grocery stores

BOSTON — Last month, Governor Charlie Baker issued a public health order requiring grocery stores to dedicate at least one hour a day exclusively to shoppers over the age of 60. But, as 25 Investigates found, some stores are also letting much younger shoppers in during these special hours.

Many of those young shoppers are so-called “grocery pickers” or personal shoppers who are fulfilling orders placed through on-line delivery services like Instacart and Amazon Prime, 25 Investigates’ Ted Daniel uncovered.

“As I walk around during those hours, the people who are over 60 years old, you can tell they’re scared," said John Jacobs, a 66-year old Costco shopper and Boston 25 News viewer whose tip prompted this story. “They’ve got masks and gloves on. They’re being very careful. And the Instacart shoppers who are by and large, considerably younger, I would say are not doing that.”

Many area stores, including Costco and Whole Foods, have teamed up with delivery services to meet increased customer demand due to COVID-19. In most cases, grocery pickers or Instacart personal shoppers are considered employees or contractors of the store.

Jacobs shared with 25 Investigates’ Ted Daniel some cell phone video he took during two recent shopping trips to his Costco warehouse in Waltham. In it, dozens of Instacart shoppers can be seen mingling with senior citizens during the Seniors Only shopping hour, which most stores do when they first open. Instacart shoppers are usually seen wearing brightly colored vests or bibs with the Instacart logo.

“There were as many people who were well under 60 years old as there were over 60 and this was during hours when it's supposed to be 60 and older only,” said Jacobs.

Another Boston 25 viewer emailed with a similar complaint about Whole Foods. She wrote: “Whole Foods lets the Prime delivery shoppers in on senior hour as well. I questioned it and they told me they were employees and that is why they can shop.”

25 Investigates contacted two Whole Foods stores in eastern Massachusetts and both confirmed Prime delivery shoppers are allowed to pick groceries during the hour set aside for seniors. We also contacted the Whole Food Corporate office but they referred us to their parent company Amazon, which did not respond in time for our story. Several attempts were also made to reach Costco’s Corporate office.

Carolyn Villers, the executive director of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, say the senior shopping time provides benefit for older shoppers and it is important for stores to honor the order.

“We know that stores are doing deep cleaning at night, and so there’s going to be less likelihood of infection," said Villers. “We also know that there’s stocking going on at night. So they don’t have to make multiple trips.”

Jacobs, the Costco shopper who contacted 25 Investigates, reached out to Costco, the State Attorney General and the state Department of Health with his concerns. We also did the same and while we were preparing this report, Jacobs received an email from the Health Department’s attorney which reds in part: “I write to let you know that the Waltham Costco has agreed to suspend their practice of having Instacart shoppers working during 60+ shopping hours.”

"I’ve been shopping there for 27 years,” said Jacobs. “I’m not trying I’m not trying to get anybody in trouble or anything. But I, I really want to see these people protected.”

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