Vons chain must pay nearly $4 million for false advertising: LADA

The supermarket chain that includes Albertsons and Vons will pay almost $4 million to settle allegations that they used false advertising and unfair competitive practices.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced Thursday that the company is settling a civil complaint with a $3.9 million payment, though it will not have to admit any wrongdoing.

The District Attorney’s Office alleged the supermarkets charged customers more than their lowest advertised price and put inaccurate weights on products that are priced by weight.

“Some items sold by weight such as produce, meats, baked goods and other items had less product in the package than was displayed on the package label,” officials said in a news release.

“False advertising preys on consumers, who are already facing rising costs, and unfairly disadvantages companies that play by the rules,” Gascón said. “This kind of corporate conduct is especially egregious when it comes to essential groceries, as Californians rely on accurate advertised prices to budget food for their families.”

In addition to the $3.9 million — about $3.2 million in penalties and nearly $750,000 in costs — the companies are also prohibited from engaging in false or misleading advertising.

Instead, the supermarkets must have a guarantee of price accuracy and compensate customers up to $5 if they’re overcharged.

“The program is an incentive to encourage consumers to report false advertising to the store as soon as it is discovered,” the release said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.