Weights and measures in groceries have been standardized for a long, long time. How did Whole Foods screw this up? Sounds like quite a few California stores got caught. Whole Foods is lucky the penalties weren’t higher.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/whole-foods-fined-in-california-overcharging-case-1403650229
State and local inspectors discovered that purchased foods weighed less than the label advertised and the weight of salad bar containers wasn’t subtracted at checkout, prosecutors said. In addition, the grocer sold prepared foods like kebabs by the item rather than by the pound as mandated by law.
The pricing discrepancies violated consumer protection laws regarding false advertising and unfair competition, prosecutors said.
The case grew out of a yearlong investigation by weights and measures inspectors for the state and Los Angeles County. Whole Foods cooperated with the inspectors during their investigation.
Among the steps needed for remediation, Whole Foods will pay $798,394 in costs and penalties and appoint “state coordinators” to oversee pricing accuracy at all 74 of its California stores.
“We’re taking action to assure consumers get what they pay for,” Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement. “No consumer should ever be overcharged by their local market.”
Is Whole Paycheck still the nickname for Whole Foods?
We very rarely shop there. They are just too expensive.