Kroger is set to pay more than $1 million to settle a California lawsuit alleging that the Ohio-based supermarket giant cut the calorie counts on several of its store-branded Carbmaster bread products.
According to a news release from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, the lawsuit against Kroger accused the company of violating California’s False Advertising and Unfair Competition laws.
Prosecutors alleged that Kroger used inaccurate calorie information on five varieties of its Carbmaster bread, both online and on the product’s packaging. Officials said the products were sold at Kroger-owned Ralphs, Food 4 Less and Foods Co. stores throughout the state.
“Food labeling laws protect consumers and help them make healthy food choices. Kroger marketed Carbmaster Bread Products to consumers on specialty diets while significantly misrepresenting the nutritional information of those products,” Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch said in a statement.
When contacted by USA TODAY on June 9, Kroger declined to comment on the matter.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
According to the DA’s Office, Kroger had miscalculated the calorie count of its products since they began being sold in 2021.
Prosecutors also alleged that after consumers complained about the incorrect calorie totals, the company continued to advertise the “substantially lower, incorrect calorie value on the consumer-facing portions of the packaging for at least six months.”
According to prosecutors, calorie discrepancies in the affected products were significant, and they alleged that Kroger’s Carbmaster Hamburger Buns were advertised to contain just 50 calories, but actually contained 100.
“As one of the largest food manufacturers and retailers in the United States, Kroger had a responsibility to ensure its representations about nutritional information were accurate, and it failed. California consumers deserve better,” Savrnoch continued.
The Settlement
Kroger is set to pay $1.25 million to resolve the lawsuit brought by the district attorneys of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Riverside counties.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY.
Add a Comment