Loblaw apologizes after underweighted meat sold in Western Canada stores

Loblaw is confirming that some of its Western Canada stores underweighted meat products, resulting in a higher cost to affected consumers.

Loblaw is apologizing after the grocer confirmed some meat products sold in stores across Western Canada were underweighted compared with what was posted on the label, leading to some customers being overcharged.

The grocer confirmed the discrepancies to Global News after the problems were exposed in a CBC News investigation published Thursday.

A Loblaw spokesperson told Global News in an email that the issues were tied to “a small number of meat products sold in select stores in Western Canada.”

The CBC investigation found underweighted meat products in as many as 80 stores over an undisclosed period ending December 2023, but identified additional issues of underweighting in additional Loblaw stores after that date, as well as in one Sobey’s-owned grocer and a Walmart.

That story reported that prices were inflated by between four and 11 per cent due to the errors.

The discrepancy appeared to happen when food products were weighed to include the packaging, which runs counter to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) guidelines, according to the CBC investigation.

“Unfortunately, the error happened as we were converting our meat trays to a more environmentally friendly format and was corrected when discovered,” the Loblaw statement to Global News read.

Global News has reached out to Sobey’s and Walmart Canada for comment on the reported underweighting at those stores.