A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed against Publix Super Markets, accusing the grocery giant of inflating the weights of certain foods during checkout, thereby depriving consumers of the promised savings on discounted items. The lawsuit alleges that Publix’s point-of-sale (POS) system automatically increases the weight of products such as meats, cheeses, and deli items when they are advertised with a price reduction, leading customers to pay more than they should.
The 47-page complaint, filed recently, asserts that Publix’s POS system intentionally manipulates the weights of products, resulting in higher charges than what was advertised. This practice, the lawsuit claims, causes customers to pay the original price of an item instead of the discounted price they expected. According to the plaintiffs, most customers are unaware of the weight inflation at checkout, as the item’s weight is not listed on the receipt and the final price on the receipt matches the price shown on the POS screen.
The lawsuit specifically highlights an example from January 2025, in which a customer purchased extra lean pork tenderloin advertised at $4.99 per pound, with a savings of $2.00 per pound from the regular price of $6.99. However, although the pork was labeled as weighing 2.83 pounds, the weight at checkout was inflated to 3.96 pounds. As a result, the customer was charged $19.78, which was $5.66 more than the correct price of $14.12, based on the discounted rate. This amounted to a 40% overcharge, according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs argue that Publix’s practices are designed to boost the company’s revenue by misleading customers into paying more than advertised. The lawsuit also alleges that employees are either unaware of or complicit in maintaining the fraudulent pricing system, with some employees reportedly insisting that any discrepancies are the customer’s fault.
The complaint further accuses Publix of failing to remove outdated sales signage and providing incorrect pricing for baby formula. The class action seeks to represent all consumers who have been affected by the alleged pricing manipulations at Publix stores across the United States.
Publix, which operates nearly 1,400 locations nationwide, is the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. Despite its widespread presence, the lawsuit claims that store employees and managers are incentivized not to report or address the alleged issues.
This class action lawsuit is the latest legal challenge for Publix, as consumers increasingly demand transparency and fairness in pricing at major retailers. The case is seeking compensation for affected customers, as well as an injunction requiring Publix to cease the alleged deceptive practices.
Read lawsuit here: https://www.classaction.org/news/publix-class-action-lawsuit-alleges-grocer-inflates-food-weights-for-on-sale-items
