President Hugo Chávez threatened Venezuela’s largest food producer anew on Sunday, warning that his government could go after Empresas Polar and shut down its brewery.

Speaking during his weekly TV and radio program, Chavez said authorities are investigating whether food is being hoarded by “a bourgeoisie that wants to do harm.”

“If Polar continues hoarding, we will have to go after Polar,” he said.

The story was first reported by the Associated Press. Since yesterday, Venezuelans who for decades have worked for or bought Polar products reacted strongly against the threat. Here’s how people have reacted on Twitter in English and Spanish.

On Monday, El Universal newspaper reported: “What is the government going to do with a brewery? I would close it. Is beer a national need? How many deaths have there been here due to Polar’s beer? How many people have been wounded? How many street fights?” 

In his speech about the future of beer production by Empresas Polar, President Chávez said: “This brewery could become an ice cream factory, a food processing plant.

What will we do with a brewery? What for? It is not necessary. People get beer bellies, and their cholesterol grows higher and they turn crazy.”

Days earlier, National Guard troops seized 132 tons (120 metric tons) of food that officials accused Polar of hoarding in storage. And last month, Chavez ordered a state takeover of property where Polar has warehouses and offices, reported AP.