MIDTOWN — Whole Foods’ stock was down Thursday — a day after a blistering report by the Department of Consumer Affairs revealed that the food giant has been overcharging for pre-packaged goods.
Whole Foods Market Inc. shares were down .88 percent to $40.67 mid-afternoon Thursday, according to the company.
The drop comes following the DCA's report that individual Whole Foods’ packages are often times not weighed or are inaccurately weighed, resulting in serious overcharges — including more than $14 for a package of coconut shrimp — for customers.
Investigators examined 80 different types of pre-packaged products and determined all were mislabeled when it came to the weight, according to the report.
Eight packages of chicken tenders were examined and were priced at $9.99 per pound. Customers who purchased these should have been overcharged $4.13, DCA found.
“Our inspectors tell me this is the worst case of mislabeling they have seen in their careers, which DCA and New Yorkers will not tolerate,” DCA Commissioner Julie Menin said in a statement. “It is unacceptable that New Yorkers shopping for a summer BBQ or who grab something to eat from the self-service aisles at New York City’s Whole Foods stores have a good chance of being overcharged.”
Whole Foods contested the agency's findings.
"Despite our requests to the DCA, they have not provided evidence to back up their demands nor have they requested any additional information from us," the company said in a statement. "Our customers are our number one stakeholder and we highly value their trust in us."
