"Several warehouse locations in Washington, California and Florida have reported suspending the retailer's famous free-sample program until further notice, and the food court has restricted dining to members only—impacting popular items like the Chicken Bake. Neither the company nor the third-party demonstration firm responded to requests for comment. The move was framed as a public-health precaution in line with CDC guidance that the virus spreads through close contact and shared surfaces (for example, many people handling a tray of samples). While reasonable from an infection-control perspective, the change is understandably disappointing to shoppers who look forward to in-store samples and food-court treats." - Jaya Saxena