Walmart sued over ice weight in frozen shrimp packages

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 28 Oct, 12:33 · Archive

Walmart faces a class-action lawsuit alleging its frozen shrimp contains up to 11 per cent less shrimp than advertised due to excess ice coating.

A class-action lawsuit filed on 8 October in Cook County, Illinois, accuses Walmart of short-changing customers on its Great Value frozen shrimp. Plaintiff Elijah Baptist claims the bags contain up to 11 per cent less shrimp than advertised once the protective ice glaze is removed. A jumbo bag sells for about $16 for 2 pounds and advertises 21 to 25 shrimp per pound.

Baptist, who says he regularly buys the product and recently purchased some for a seafood party in June, argues that Walmart is including the weight of the ice glaze in the net product weight. According to FDA guidelines, the weight of glaze cannot be included in the advertised net weight, and manufacturers can face criminal liability for doing so. Baptist states he would not have bought the bags or paid as much had he known the actual shrimp quantity.

Ice glazing is standard practice in the frozen seafood industry to prevent freezer burn, but Baptist contends that Walmart's product violates FDA guidelines. Walmart said it has 'policies in place to help ensure suppliers provide correctly labeled products' and is reviewing the complaint. The company recently agreed to pay $45 million to customers over another food-weight lawsuit.

How it is being reported

• Walmart sued for allegedly filling frozen fish containers with too much iceLawsuit claims Great Value frozen shrimp is coated with ice to keep it safe from freezer burn — which also adds to its weightIndependent World · 28 Oct, 12:17
• Scamping on the shrimp: Lawsuit alleges Walmart is filling frozen fish containers with too much iceLawsuit claims Great Value frozen shrimp is coated with ice to keep it safe from freezer burn — which also adds to its weightIndependent World · 27 Oct, 23:43
• Walmart is using a sneaky trick to skimp on shrimp: lawsuitWalmart is being sued for allegedly scrimping on shrimp, with one pescophile saying the retail giant has been inflating the weight of sacks of the product with ice.New York Post · 27 Oct, 17:15

In this story: Walmart · Elijah Baptist · Illinois · FDA

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