A proposed class-action lawsuit claims that Walmart's Great Value frozen shrimp contains up to 11 percent less seafood than advertised.
My jaw dropped when I saw this - our faith in grocery labels has been woefully misplaced, it seems. A proposed class-action lawsuit is making waves, claiming Walmart's Great Value frozen shrimp packs contain less seafood than they claim on the label. The jumbo bags of raw, tail-on shrimp that cost around $16 for two pounds are supposedly packed with between 21 and 25 shrimp per pound - a promise that now looks suspiciously hollow.
The Shrimp Shortfall
According to the lawsuit, approximately one-tenth of the weight allegedly comes from an ice glaze coating the shrimp. This means that consumers are getting up to 11 percent less seafood than they paid for.
Walmarts Shrimp Scandal Exposed: Up to 11% Ice Deception
I've been buying frozen shrimp from Walmart for years, thinking I was getting a good deal on a decent product. But it turns out, I was paying for ice instead of seafood - up to 11 percent less than promised, according to the new class-action lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that some bags contain as much as 10% of their weight in an ice glaze coating, which is meant to protect the shrimp from freezer burn. Manufacturers commonly use a thin layer of frozen water to protect shrimp from freezer burn, so this isn't exactly a new seafood trick. But consumers shouldn't be paying for this protective layer as if it were actual seafood, says Elijah Baptist, the Illinois shopper who filed the complaint.
The lawsuit alleges that Walmart's Great Value frozen shrimp costs around $16 for two pounds and is advertised as containing between 21 and 25 shrimp per pound. With up to 11% of the weight coming from ice, consumers are getting a less-than-ideal deal - but not necessarily a "raw" one.
The proposed class-action lawsuit is a wake-up call for Walmart and its customers. What will happen next? Will Walmart be forced to re-label their Great Value frozen shrimp, or will they try to fight the lawsuit? Only time will tell.
Source: Google News
