CBC report reveals Loblaw stores charging more for less meat

A new report from CBC has found that certain Loblaw grocery stores were overcharging customers for underweighted meat.

According to the investigation, 80 Loblaw chain locations were charging consumers more money for less meat. A woman from the Lake Winnipeg area in Manitoba, discovered she had been overcharged after weighing the product and noticing the hard plastic tray accounted for the missing weight.

Under federal regulations, net weights on food packaging and the prices associated with them cannot include the item’s packaging.

Food professor Sylvain Charlebois notes that isn’t the first time such issues have occurred. The findings of CBC’s report have sparked online discourse, especially with consumers still reeling from the bread price-fixing drama that unfolded in mid-2024. A report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, listing the country’s richest men, placed Galen Weston, Loblaw’s CEO, near the top of the list.

Trending Now reached out to Loblaw Companies for a response to the price gouging allegations. In their statement, they explained that the issue stemmed from a change in packaging types.

The statement read, “Unfortunately, the error occurred as we were converting our meat trays to a more environmentally friendly format and was corrected once discovered.”  The company apologized and mentioned that they implemented a discount on certain meat products in the affected stores.

Despite this, Food professor Sylvain Charlebois warns that Canadians should expect food costs to continue rising in 2025 and advises consumers to keep track of the value they’re getting for their money.