“Due to a sustained power outage, the store was unable to keep certain perishable foods at proper temperatures,” H-E-B Stores said in a statement given to CNN affiliate KEYE.
“To adhere to strict food quality and safety standards, we are required to dispose of certain perishable foods when they are not properly temperature controlled, which also prevents us from donating the items to food pantries and food banks.”
As rumors about the free food giveaway spread, roads were gridlocked and law enforcement responded, Morales said.
A deadly ice storm that swept through Texas last week wiped out power to more than 400,000 homes, businesses and other electricity customers.
As of Sunday morning, at least 66,000 Texas customers had no electricity, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.US.
Travis County was among those included in an ice storm disaster declaration issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday.
