Vancouver, B.C. — A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed in British Columbia against three of Canada's largest grocery chains—Loblaws, Walmart Canada, and Sobeys—alleging the companies have misled consumers by including the weight of packaging in the prices of meat products sold by weight.
A class-action lawsuit was filed in Federal Court in Vancouver on Jan. 9 by lead plaintiff Carrie Corrall, a B.C. mother who says she spends "hundreds or thousands of dollars" every year on meat products to feed her family. Corrall alleges the grocery chains had engaged in deceptive practices that flout federal and provincial regulations and that Canadians are consistently overpaying for meat products as a result.
The class action alleges the retailers are misrepresenting the true weight of the raw and ready-to-cook meat products sold by including the weight of packaging in the overall weight, and consumers are paying for a quantity they are not receiving. According to the lawsuit, these practices are particularly damaging during a time of high inflation and financial constraint, where many Canadians are struggling to afford essential goods. The lawsuit, which is seeking punitive damages, argues that the alleged deception runs against the public pledges grocers have made to keep prices low during the cost-of-living crisis.
"This isn't just about a few cents-it's about trust and fairness," said one of the lawyers leading the case. "At a time when Canadians are feeling the pinch, families deserve transparency from the companies they rely on for food.".
The class action lawsuit comes when people are growing angry over high food prices amid what many describe as "greedflation": a price hike in the guise of corporate profit. Media reported that grocers come under mounting pressure from customers and politicians alike. In particular, it took place right after the above-discussed CBC News investigative report shed light on these allegedly practiced methods of businesses, making an additional drop in public perception possible.
The proposed class action has not been certified by the court, and the allegations have not been proven in court. To date, none of the allegations have been commented on by representatives for Loblaws, Walmart Canada or Sobeys.
For Corrall and other Canadians, this is a class action about much more than money; it is about accountability. "It's hard enough to keep up with rising costs these days," Corrall said. "I trusted these companies to charge me fairly. If they've been overcharging us on purpose, it's not right, and it needs to stop.".
It serves as a grim reminder that accountability at a corporate level needs to be more rigorous in times when economies are strained even more than ever. Certified as a class-action lawsuit, it may end up bringing monumental changes in how meat items are weighed and priced within grocery stores across Canada.
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