The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced that the state will receive a $1 million settlement from Roundy’s Supermarkets over claims of short weight packages and package labeling violations, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
According to DATCP, inspections in December 2023 and January 2024 at 81 of Wisconsin’s 105 Roundy’s stores found “unreasonably inaccurate” listed weights for 1,202 products, leading to consumers receiving less than they paid for. Products including precooked meals, salad kits, store-packaged sandwiches, premade cold platters, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and fish fillets were overpriced by an average of $1.44 per item. The greatest error was overpriced by $7.04.
Roughly 587 products had label inaccuracies misleading to consumers. Among the 90 resulting in civil forfeitures were 55 alleged violations of improperly selling a product by count rather than by weight, and 35 alleged violations of failure to properly display net quantity in a prominent location on packaging.
Roundy’s does not admit to any violations under the settlement but will pay $1,003,590.50 in civil forfeitures, surcharges, and fees. It received 63 warning letters from DATCP for short weight package and label error violations between 2018–23. The company paid $20,659 in fines in 2018, 2022, and 2023 and is reportedly implementing corrective measures to ensure the proper labeling of store-made products.
