A class action lawsuit targets major grocery chains for allegedly selling underweighted meat, sparking outrage among consumers.
Deborah Eakins, a shopper, decided to weigh her ground beef after reading the report. She found that the meat from Sobeys-owned Pete’s Frootique was weighed with its plastic packaging, leading to an overcharge of $1.23 on her bill.
Eakins expressed her frustration, saying she doesn’t want to pay for packaging. Many shoppers are feeling the pinch of rising food prices, and this discovery has only added to their anger.
The investigation showed that the weight of the beef and its packaging combined matched the label’s posted net weight, which is against federal regulations. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has called for accountability from these big corporations.
In November 2024, CBC News found similar issues at a Sobeys-owned FreshCo store in Toronto. Sobeys acknowledged the problem and said they were addressing it.
Iris Griffin, another shopper, filed a complaint with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) after discovering underweighted meat at a Loblaw Superstore in Winnipeg. She was surprised to learn that a proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed against these grocery giants for misrepresenting meat weights.
The lawsuit claims they included packaging weight in their measurements, which is misleading. While the suit is still pending certification, Griffin hopes it will hold these retailers accountable.
Loblaw and Sobeys have not commented on the lawsuit, but Walmart stated they are reviewing their weighing systems.
Interestingly, when Griffin’s complaint was investigated, the CFIA didn’t inspect any stores in person, which has raised eyebrows among former inspectors. They believe more rigorous oversight is needed to protect consumers from fraud.
The CFIA claims they conduct regular inspections, but the number of inspections in grocery stores remains unclear. With over 8,000 grocery stores in Canada, it’s crucial for consumers to feel confident in the accuracy of what they’re buying.
