NYC: Whole Foods mislabels prepackaged items, overcharges
Source: Associated Press
NYC: Whole Foods mislabels prepackaged items, overcharges
By JIM FITZGERALD, Associated Press | June 24, 2015 | Updated: June 24, 2015 1:49pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Whole Foods supermarkets have been routinely overcharging customers by overstating the weight of prepackaged meat, dairy and baked goods, New York City's consumer chief said Wednesday.
The price on a package of coconut shrimp at the upscale market was too high by $14.84, said Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Julie Menin. A package of chicken tenders was overpriced by $4.85, and a vegetable platter by $6.15, the department said.
"These overcharges are incredibly troubling," Menin said, alleging that they continued even after Whole Foods was informed of the city investigation, which began in the fall. The investigation checked the eight Whole Foods markets then open in the city. A ninth has since opened. In all, the Austin, Texas-based chain has 422 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
"We have been meeting with Whole Foods for months," the commissioner said, "but we repeatedly found problems that were incredibly pervasive."
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/NYC-consumer-agency-says-Whole-Foods-mislabels-6346726.php?cmpid=rrhoustontx
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With thanks to SalmonChantedEvening -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018773513
(those are posted every Sunday, and can really give a little food for your spirit).
and levy some hefty fines. 
How about their Whole Profits? 
I believe.
Cher
I'm a vegetarian, but fortunately I can cook. I get my bulk stuff online or at ethnic food stores because I don't like the CEO's anti- union beliefs. They're particularly reprehensible considering who buys his food.
I have to laugh at their corruption here.
They know full well who their customer base is. Around here, any liberal group that wants to get anything passed tries to set up a table outside Whole Foods. They know that's where they will reach all the liberals.
I did it once for a local cause. We collected more signatures on petitions than anyplace else.
Cher
I shop there, but only buy items that are on sale. Sometimes I go there just to feel good about my other food sources, which are a fraction of the prices charged at this place.
My spouse shops there, though, and when he brings home a bag of groceries from WF and I look on the label to see how much was charged, I cringe. I simply cannot fathom how anyone can pay that much for this stuff.
A lot of times he is on expense account, though (he's in the food business). Also, he's wise to their game. He calls them the "great food combiners," meaning that they just combine a couple complementary flavors and mark the price up dramatically. Here's an example: feta cheese. They grind some fresh black pepper over, douse in a little olive oil, chop up a few herbs, and throw in a red cayenne pepper. Looks fabulous! Then they mark it up 100 per cent for their "expertise."
Now, I ask you, how much time would it take you to do that? It would take me all of four minutes, so that's about a $1 a minute for their "food expertise."
That would then be $60 an hour, and they're probably only paying the employee $15 an hour.
Cher
in my neighborhood...underground parking, multiple levels. I never go there. If the store doesn't get and keep it's act together, wonder what could fill the space? Hmmm. Affordable housing might be one option.
