Fact Check: Is it true New York City's grocery stores will require shoppers to show ID?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal to open five city-owned grocery stores has sparked a viral claim that shoppers will have to show identification to buy groceries. Republican officials, conservative commentators, and social media influencers have widely shared the allegation, fueling a debate online.

Claim: NYC shoppers need to show ID to buy groceries

The rumor began after comments made during a New York City press conference about Zohran Mamdani's proposed city-owned grocery stores.

During the event, reporters asked how the city planned to prevent people from buying large amounts of discounted groceries and reselling them for profit.

In response, Jeanny Pak, the interim president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, said officials were considering a "library-card-esque" system.

She explained that the idea was similar to a supermarket loyalty card and would help manage inventory and prevent abuse of discounted prices. However, her remarks were later misrepresented online, with viral posts claiming that shoppers would be required to show government-issued identification to buy groceries.

An X user posted, "New York City will require IDs to prove you live in the city in order to shop in the city owned grocery stores. So you need an ID to shop in the city’s stores, but it would be racist to require an ID to vote. Perfection."

Fact Check: The claim is false

The claim is false. New York City officials said shoppers will not have to show ID at city-owned grocery stores. Officials are discussing a voluntary customer card, similar to a supermarket loyalty card.

The card would help manage inventory and prevent people from buying large amounts of discounted items to resell. It would not require ID.

Mamdani also dismissed the rumor during an appearance on 'The Joy Reid Show.' He said, “When we’re talking about a city-run grocery store, one in each borough, which by the way, you do not need an ID to shop at, no matter what you’ve just heard in the news of today, we’re talking about actually addressing the question of skyrocketing grocery prices.”

Mamdani's spokespersons, Joe Calvello and Dora Pekec, also denied the claim on X. 

Calvello wrote, “Insane that this even needs to be said, but to be absolutely clear: NYC Grocery stores will be open to everyone. There will be no system to verify identity, residency or income, and no one will be asked to show ID to shop. This is the dumbest and fakest online news cycle I have seen.”

Another spokesperson, Cassio Mendoza, explained that the proposed "library-card-esque" system is simply a voluntary customer card. It would help stores manage supplies and stop people from buying discounted products in bulk for resale. Anyone could get the card, and it would not require ID, proof of residency, or income verification.