Walmart, the big store, just recently said that all buyers of a certain canned good will get money back. It comes after two companies that make canned foods were sued for breaking the law. Walmart has good news for people who bought this item during a certain time period.
If you routinely make tuna stew to save money, this news might seem completely crazy to you: There is a big deal in court about canned tuna that includes Walmart and its branch, Sam’s Club.
Millions of Americans who bought this pantry item in the last few years might be able to get a straight payment. What is the deal with these canned foods?
Canning companies inflating food prices
Two big names in the U.S. food market, StarKist and Lion Capital, were found to have worked together to raise costs in an oligopoly. These companies, along with Chicken of the Sea, sold most of the canned tuna in North America and had 80% of the market.
People have been suspicious of these packing companies for years because they may be trying to trick the market. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) began looking into price fixing in the canned tuna business.
This led to big suppliers being charged with crimes. StarKist said they were guilty in 2018 and were fined $100 million in 2019.
There were 5 oz. and 12 oz. tuna cans that were affected by this illegal plan to set prices. A lot of American families bought these cans to save money, not realizing that StarKist and Lion Capital were unfairly going after people who were looking for a cheap source of protein.
The DOJ says that these companies worked together to make prices go up very quickly from June 2011 to December 2016. For more than five years, U.S. customers had to pay for their greed.
These expensive canned tuna brands were sold at Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Costco, which is a bulk store.
The stores did not know about the oligopoly, so they sold these goods for years while millions of Americans dealt with inflation after 2008.
A lot of people, including well-known brands and big shops, can get caught doing illegal things that hurt customers.
These brands of overpriced canned tuna were sold at Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Costco. However, the stores did not know that the companies that made them were working together to raise costs unfairly.
These shops sold the goods for years, even though many Americans were already having a hard time with rising prices after the 2008 financial crisis.
This case shows how even big shops and brands can do things that hurt customers without even realizing it.
How to get your money back
You might be able to get your money back if you bought canned tuna at Walmart, Sam’s Club, or Costco between 2011 and 2016.
The deal includes both StarKist and Lion Capital brands. Depending on how much tuna you bought during that time, you could get up to $25.
How do you know if you can ask for a straight payment, though? Walmart can help even though it is been years and most people would not still have their food store receipts from more than ten years ago.
If you can not find your receipts, you might still be able to check your credit card or loyalty card records to see what you bought.
First, look at your email. Walmart stores a digital record of what each customer buys and will send you updates to the email address associated with your account.
The email will have detailed directions on how to move forward and send in any paperwork that is needed. Your Class Member ID will help people quickly find you during the claims process.
After getting all the information you need, you should file and send in your claim. Since the due date is December 31, 2024, do not wait too long.
Millions of people who usually bought tuna in a can at Walmart can now get back the extra money they thought they had paid.