Walmart Inc. has agreed to pay $5.6 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the retailer overcharged customers for baked goods and produce that weighed less than labeled. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office filed the lawsuit, claiming that Walmart’s pricing practices violated California state laws requiring retailers to charge their lowest advertised price.
According to district attorney Jeff Rosen, “When someone brings an item to the register to be scanned, the price must be right.” As part of the settlement, Walmart will oversee weight and price accuracy in its California stores. The majority of the settlement money, $5.5 million, will go towards civil penalties, while nearly $140,000 will cover investigation costs.
Santa Clara County will receive close to $1.4 million from the settlement, which will be added to the district attorney’s Consumer Protection fund. This is not the first time Walmart has faced similar allegations; the company paid $2.1 million in a similar case in 2012.
The investigation into Walmart received assistance from local agencies, including the Weights and Measures Division, Department of Environmental Health, and Division of Agriculture. Consumers can report concerns about purchasing weights at stores in Santa Clara County through an online form, email, or phone call.
Source: https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/08/walmart-overcharging-california-bay-area