Whole Foods Says N.Y. City Misrepresented Agreement Over Grocery Overpricing

Whole Foods Market’s agreement to pay $500,000 after the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) accused the company of routinely overcharging customers was “misrepresented” by the DCA in its press release. The company said there was “no evidence of systematic or intentional misconduct.” DCA Commissioner Julie Menin’s statement referred to "the troubling and repeated mislabeling of pre-packaged goods at Whole Foods last year" and to the promise that "New Yorkers are better protected from overcharging.' The New York Daily News reported that dozens of inspections beginning in 2010 had uncovered “routine overcharging of customers on groceries.” According to Whole Foods, the company has “pre-existing pricing and weights/measures programs,” a 3rd party auditing program, and a full refund guarantee. It agreed to the settlement “to put this issue behind us.”