A proposed class-action lawsuit launched in British Columbia alleges Loblaws, Walmart Canada and Sobeys 香蕉视频直播渕isrepresented香蕉视频直播 the weight of meat products by including the weight of packaging in calculating prices.
Lead plaintiff Carrie Corrall says in a Federal Court lawsuit filed in Vancouver on Jan. 9 that she香蕉视频直播檚 a B.C. mother that regularly spends 香蕉视频直播渉undreds or thousands of dollars香蕉视频直播 each year on meat products.
The lawsuit alleges grocers are using 香蕉视频直播渄eceptive means香蕉视频直播 that violate 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 alleges the practices mean Canadians have been 香蕉视频直播渞egularly overpaying for meat products香蕉视频直播 at the defendants香蕉视频直播 grocery stores.
A judge still needs to certify the class proceeding, which is seeking punitive damages due to the alleged deception coming at a time of high inflation and when grocers have publicly committed to keeping prices low while 香蕉视频直播渄iscretely overcharging香蕉视频直播 consumers.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and Loblaws, Walmart Canada and Sobeys were not immediately available to comment on the allegations.
The lawsuit says the topic of high food prices has been the subject of 香蕉视频直播渃ountless news stories,香蕉视频直播 and the legal action was filed shortly after CBC News revealed the alleged practices in an investigation published last week.
Walmart Canada says a third-party supplier that weighed and labelled meat products for its Richmond, B.C., store took immediate 香蕉视频直播渃orrective action香蕉视频直播 when it was made aware some products were being priced incorrectly.
Walmart Canada says in an emailed statement that a third-party supplier was responsible for an 香蕉视频直播渋solated incident香蕉视频直播 at the Richmond store for a two-week period last month.
The retailer says its suppliers price meat according to Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations, and the agency 香蕉视频直播渉as not raised a concern with Walmart about a price-to-weight discrepancy with meat.香蕉视频直播
A representative for Sobeys declined to comment on the lawsuit, and Loblaw Companies did not respond to a request for comment.