In an interview on Monday evening, Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized the "Essener Tafel" food bank, saying, "I think that you shouldn't put people in categories. This is not good." However, she went on to say that the action taken by the food bank shows the pressure that exists, and how many people are reliant on such groups.

Merkel then said that she hoped a solution could be reached, whereby no groups would be excluded.

Pushing and shoving

The NGO in Essen is one of 930 "Tafel" food banks across Germany. These organizations take food that has almost reached its use-by date from restaurants and supermarkets. Those in need can register to receive free groceries for their families at a specified time every week.

The Essen non-profit decided to ban foreigners from registering for food donations last December. The food bank's manager, Jörg Sartor, said this was because 75 percent of the members were foreigners. He also said that elderly Germans felt nervous about picking up food, because there was too much pushing and shoving. 

Speaking at a press conference, Sator said he "didn't understand all the excitement," claiming that neither he nor his volunteers were racist. The ban on new membership was planned to last for a few months, but would end before the summer, he said.

Last Sunday, the food bank's delivery truck and some doors at the premises were sprayed with graffiti, which said "F*** Nazis." Sator dismissed this as "kid's stuff" in an interview with west German broadcaster WDR.