During a podcast discussion on 'microlooting', New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino admitted to stealing small items from Amazon-owned Whole Foods on multiple occasions, and influencer Hasan Piker backed widespread piracy, arguing that minor theft is already accounted for in large corporations’ financial planning.

In response to retail theft concerns and to streamline operations, Amazon shuttered its fully cashierless grocery stores in early 2026 and has begun testing micro-fulfillment centers within select Whole Foods locations, allowing customers to place orders via an automated system while shopping.