Lawsuit asserts grocery chains included the weight of meat packaging in calculating price
A proposed class-action lawsuit has been launched in the Federal Court alleging that Loblaws, Walmart Canada and Sobeys “misrepresented” the weight of their meat products.
The lawsuit asserts the grocery chains included the weight of the packaging in calculating the price.
Lead plaintiff Carrie Corrall says in the lawsuit filed in Vancouver on Jan. 9 that she’s a B.C. mother who spends “hundreds or thousands of dollars” every year on meat.
The lawsuit alleges grocers are violating federal and provincial regulations by including packaging weight in the price of raw and cooked meat products that are sold by weight.
The statement of claim says that means Canadians have been “regularly overpaying for meat products.”
The proposed class action must be certified by a judge. It seeks punitive damages due to the alleged deception, arising during the present period of high inflation and public commitments by grocers to keep prices low.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Loblaws, Walmart Canada and Sobeys were not immediately available to comment on the allegations.
The legal action was filed shortly after CBC News revealed the alleged practice in an investigation published last week.
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