The NGO came under fire on Thursday amid reports that its branch in the western town of Marl was turning away non-Germans and young, single men, Deutsche Welle reported.
Amid the public outcry that ensued, Renate Kampe, chairwoman of the Tafel branch in Marl, parried accusations of racism arguing that the company actually wanted to put families, regardless of nationality, at the top of their list of food recipients.
"The main problem is that we do not have enough supplies," she said.
The situation unfolds just days after the Essen branch of Tafel drew flak for refusing to serve foreigners after elderly people and single parents complained about being pushed and shoved at food distribution centers.
The Marl charity is just one of the 930-strong chain of Tafel food banks all across Germany, which collects food that is nearing its expiration date from eateries and supermarkets to further distribute it among needy families at a specified time weekly.
Among those enrolled in the social program are those who are unemployed or low-income beneficiaries.
About 1.5 million refugees have arrived in Germany since 2015, prompting local authorities to allocate huge sums for migration-related issues.
The influx of migrants into the country was a result of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's open door policy towards migrants fleeing devastating wars and military conflicts in their home countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
READ MORE: Less Benefits, More Check-Ups: Germany's CSU Demands Tougher Stance on Refugees
