Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) are calling on administration officers to analyze Albertsons and different main grocery chains for “predatory practices” they are saying could have violated federal legal guidelines.
Warren and Schiff wrote a letter to Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) Chair Lina Khan and Division of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack asking them to analyze whether or not the grocers are overcharging clients.
The lawmakers famous that final month, California district attorneys reached a virtually $4 million settlement with Albertsons and its subsidiaries Safeway and Vons after it was discovered they “unlawfully charged customers prices higher than their lowest advertised or posted price” and overcharged individuals by inserting inaccurate weights on labels for merchandise.
For instance, if a product was offered base on an merchandise’s web weight, the grocery store would overcharge clients by together with the burden of the packaging in price, the Democrats stated in a press launch.
“Albertsons is one of the largest food retailers in the United States, boasting over 2,200 stores across the country. This settlement covers the 589 Albertsons stores in California, but all U.S. customers should be protected from predatory pricing,” the lawmakers stated of their letter.
Warren and Schiff are urging Khan and Vilsack to analyze whether or not different Albertsons shops or different grocery chains throughout the nation have participated in “similar wrongdoing” and maintain the events accountable.
Warren is likely one of the main lawmakers tackling worth gouging and inflated costs at grocery shops for Individuals.
The lawmakers famous that Albertsons’ proposed $24.6 billion merger with Kroger threatens to drive up costs and “harm grocery store workers and consumers.”
The Hill has reached out to Albertsons, the FTC and USDA for remark.
