A proposed class-action lawsuit in Canada is accusing Loblaw, Walmart, and Sobeys of underweight meat sales, alleging that the grocers have ‘misrepresented’ the weight of meat products in their stores by including the weight of the packaging materials when prices are calculated and sold by weight, contrary to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) guidelines.
The statement of claim shines light on what are being called “deceptive” practices that result in Canadians overpaying for meat products, costs that are already being exacerbated by high inflation. Many of these grocers have publicly stated that they are committed to keeping groceries affordable at a time when customers need it the most, while secretly overcharging them and driving up costs.
Though a judge still needs to certify the class proceedings, the timing of the accusation proves that the actions are in stark contrast to the outward appearance that the grocers seek to maintain.
Since the news broke and the investigation launched, Loblaw has confirmed the discrepancies and apologized publicly for overcharging customers, assuring that the problems were related to only “a small number of meat products sold in select stores in Western Canada.” The investigation launched by CBC, however, found the overcharging issue to have been present in as many as 80 stores. Prices were found to be inflated by between four and 11 percent, which adds up quickly in the form of profit for the company.
A statement from Loblaw to Global News explained the reason: “Unfortunately, the error happened as we were converting our meat trays to a more environmentally friendly format and was corrected when discovered,” but had the public outcry not happened, would action have been taken to resolve the issue? The company also noted that it will implement a discount on select meat products in affected stores.
Sobeys also issued a statement confirming that it takes these issues seriously and believes that it was an isolated occurrence. Steps will be taken to reinforce its procedures to rectify the matter going forward. It was also noted that packaging weight can fluctuate, which could have played a role in the debacle.
A spokesperson for CFIA has stated that when infractions are discovered, the companies in question will face repercussions that are proportionate to the risk and severity of non-compliance.
