Whole Foods Stores In 'Pervasive' Overcharging

Whole Foods has been routinely overcharging customers in New York City, consumer investigators have said.

The upscale supermarket has been overstating the weight of pre-packaged meat, dairy and baked goods, said officials.

It is not the first time the store has been found to be overcharging customers.

Last year, Whole Foods agreed to pay $800,000 in penalties after an investigation into pricing irregularities in California .

The New York City Consumer Affairs Department said on Wednesday it found mislabelled weights on 80 different types of pre-packaged products it tested.

Overcharges ranging from 80 cents for a package of pecan panko to $14.84 on a packet of coconut shrimp.

A packet of chicken tenders was overpriced by $4.85, and a vegetable platter by $6.15, according to investigators.

Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Julie Menin said: "These overcharges are incredibly troubling."

She said the pricing irregularities continued even after Whole Foods was warned of the city's investigation.

"We have been meeting with Whole Foods for months," the commissioner said, "but we repeatedly found problems that were incredibly pervasive."

The investigation, which began last autumn, focused on the eight Whole Foods markets then open in the city.

Whole Foods said in emailed statements: "We disagree with the DCA's overreaching allegations."

It said the department had made "grossly excessive monetary demands" to settle the dispute, but would not disclose the amount.

But Ms Menin said penalties have not yet been assessed as the investigation is ongoing.

Fines for falsely labelling a package can be as much as $950 for the first violation and up to $1,700 for further violations.

The Consumer Affairs Department said Whole Foods had thousands of potential violations.

Some consumers already dub the chain "Whole Pay Cheque" because of its reputation for swingeing prices.

It recently announced plans for a new chain of smaller stores with lower prices.

The Austin, Texas-based company has 422 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.