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Tempest in a Teapot. 9th Circuit ruling notes: "FDA regulations provided, at all relevant times, that if the product contained “less than 0.5 gram” trans fat, as it did in this case, it was required to tell the consumer on the Nutrition Facts Panel that it contained 0 grams trans fat, even though it contained this dangerous food additive." https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-9th-circuit/1956219.html
 
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|Industry=Retail
|Industry=Retail
|Logo=Kroger logo.png
|Logo=Kroger logo.png
|Type=Public subsidiary
|Website=https://thekrogerco.com/,https://kroger.com/
|Website=https://thekrogerco.com/,https://kroger.com/
}}[[wikipedia:Kroger|The Kroger Company]] is an American retail store.
| Description = Conglomerate, primarily of supermarket chains in the USA.
| CompanyAlias = Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Home Chef, King Soopers, Kroger, The Little Clinic, Mariano's, QFC, Ralphs, Roundy's, Metro Market, Pick 'n Save, JayC, Ruler Foods, Smith's, Vitacost
| Type = Public
| Industry = Grocery
}}
 
[[wikipedia:Kroger|The Kroger Company]] is an American supermarket chain conglomerate.


==Consumer-impact summary==
==Consumer-impact summary==
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===Email Data Base Hacked (''2011'')===
===Email Data Base Hacked (''2011'')===
[[File:Kroger letter to customers.png|alt=Kroger Alert to Customers in 2011 data breach |thumb|Kroger Alert to Customers ]]
[[File:Kroger letter to customers.png|alt=Kroger Alert to Customers in 2011 data breach |thumb|Kroger Alert to Customers ]]
On 30 March, Kroger emailing firm Epsilon experienced a security breach that leaked customers names and email addresses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2011 |title=Epsilon Notifies Clients of Unauthorized Entry into Email System |url=https://www.epsilon.com/News%20&%20Events/Press_Releases_2011/Epsilon_Notifies_Clients_of_Unauthorized_Entry_into_Email_System/p1057-l3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415043816/https://www.epsilon.com/News%20&%20Events/Press_Releases_2011/Epsilon_Notifies_Clients_of_Unauthorized_Entry_into_Email_System/p1057-l3 |archive-date=15 April 2011 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Epsilon}}</ref> On 01 April, Kroger sent letters to affected customers that described the incident being sourced from a "outside company" and warning customers of phishing attacks and spam.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2011 |title=Spammers Target Kroger Customers |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/04/spammers-target-kroger-customers/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403055450/https://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/04/spammers-target-kroger-customers/ |archive-date=3 April 2011 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=KrebsonSecurity}}</ref> Several organizations asked Epsilon the amount of customers affected, however they refused to respond.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lennon |first=Mike |date=1 April 2011 |title=Kroger Notifies Customers of Data Breach Stemming from Third-Party Email Vendor |url=https://www.securityweek.com/kroger-notifies-customers-data-breach-stemming-third-party-email-vendor/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=SecurityWeek}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarno |first=David |date=5 April 2011 |title=Hacking of data firm Epsilon exposes customers of 50 firms |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-apr-05-la-fi-emails-20110405-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2011 |title=Data breach hits JPMorgan, Kroger customers |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/data-breach-hits-jpmorgan-kroger-customers-idUSTRE73103G/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Reuters}}</ref>
On 30 March, Kroger's email service provider, Epsilon experienced a security breach that leaked customers names and email addresses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2011 |title=Epsilon Notifies Clients of Unauthorized Entry into Email System |url=https://www.epsilon.com/News%20&%20Events/Press_Releases_2011/Epsilon_Notifies_Clients_of_Unauthorized_Entry_into_Email_System/p1057-l3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415043816/https://www.epsilon.com/News%20&%20Events/Press_Releases_2011/Epsilon_Notifies_Clients_of_Unauthorized_Entry_into_Email_System/p1057-l3 |archive-date=15 April 2011 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Epsilon}}</ref> On 01 April, Kroger sent letters to affected customers that described the incident being sourced from a "outside company" and warning customers of phishing attacks and spam.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2011 |title=Spammers Target Kroger Customers |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/04/spammers-target-kroger-customers/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403055450/https://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/04/spammers-target-kroger-customers/ |archive-date=3 April 2011 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=KrebsonSecurity}}</ref> Several organizations asked Epsilon the number of customers affected, however they refused to respond.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lennon |first=Mike |date=1 April 2011 |title=Kroger Notifies Customers of Data Breach Stemming from Third-Party Email Vendor |url=https://www.securityweek.com/kroger-notifies-customers-data-breach-stemming-third-party-email-vendor/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=SecurityWeek}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarno |first=David |date=5 April 2011 |title=Hacking of data firm Epsilon exposes customers of 50 firms |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-apr-05-la-fi-emails-20110405-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2011 |title=Data breach hits JPMorgan, Kroger customers |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/data-breach-hits-jpmorgan-kroger-customers-idUSTRE73103G/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Reuters}}</ref>


===Third-party vendor Accellion data breach (''2021'')===
===Third-party vendor Accellion data breach (''2021'')===
{{Main|Accellion data breach}}
{{Main|Accellion data breach}}


Mid December in 2020, Kroger was involved in a data breach that resulted in around 50 customers leaking personal after hacker infiltrated Accellion systems. Kroger became aware of the incident in 27 January, and after conducting an investigation, released a statement around 19 February.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Accellion Incident |url=https://www.kroger.com/i/accellion-incident |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219235325/https://www.kroger.com/i/accellion-incident |archive-date=19 February 2021 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Kroger}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Monica |date=31 October 2025 |title=Accellion Data Breach |url=https://www.huntress.com/threat-library/data-breach/accellion-data-breach |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Huntress}}</ref>
In December 2020, Kroger was involved in a data breach that resulted in around 2% of  customers' personal info leaking after hackers infiltrated Accellion systems. Kroger became aware of the incident in January, and after conducting an investigation, released a statement around 19 February.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Accellion Incident |url=https://www.kroger.com/i/accellion-incident |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219235325/https://www.kroger.com/i/accellion-incident |archive-date=19 February 2021 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Kroger}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Monica |date=31 October 2025 |title=Accellion Data Breach |url=https://www.huntress.com/threat-library/data-breach/accellion-data-breach |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Huntress}}</ref>


===Kroger merger deal with Albertson (''2024'')===
===Kroger merger deal with Albertson (''2024'')===
{{Main|Kroger merger deal with Albertson}}
{{Main|Kroger merger deal with Albertson}}
On 10 December 2024, the Federal Trade Commission block a $24.6 Billion merger agreement between Kroger and Albertsons over risk of higher food prices and fewer product choices. A day later, both companies filed lawsuits against each other.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Statement on FTC Victory Securing Halt to Kroger, Albertsons Grocery Merger |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/12/statement-ftc-victory-securing-halt-kroger-albertsons-grocery-merger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102182554/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/12/statement-ftc-victory-securing-halt-kroger-albertsons-grocery-merger |archive-date=2 January 2025 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Federal Trade Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Durbin |first=Dee |date=11 December 2024 |title=Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger |url=https://apnews.com/article/kroger-albertsons-79e366723d7287b2df71d96730fba76e |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=AP News}}</ref>
On 10 December 2024, the Federal Trade Commission blocked a $24.6 Billion merger agreement between Kroger and Albertsons over risk of higher food prices and fewer product choices. <ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Statement on FTC Victory Securing Halt to Kroger, Albertsons Grocery Merger |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/12/statement-ftc-victory-securing-halt-kroger-albertsons-grocery-merger |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102182554/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/12/statement-ftc-victory-securing-halt-kroger-albertsons-grocery-merger |archive-date=2 January 2025 |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Federal Trade Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Durbin |first=Dee |date=11 December 2024 |title=Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger |url=https://apnews.com/article/kroger-albertsons-79e366723d7287b2df71d96730fba76e |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=AP News}}</ref>


===Kroger Grocery store electronic shelf labels & facial recognition (''2024'')===
===Kroger Grocery store electronic shelf labels & facial recognition (''2024'')===
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Consumer Report, the Guardian, and the Food & Environment Reporting Network released a report on 14 May after conducting an 3 month long investigation into several Kroger stores in the U.S. that revealed several products expired tags were out of date by at least 10 days and were overpriced by around $1.70. Kroger initially responded by saying the investigation was inaccurate. A few weeks later on 29 May, the company announced hiring over 15,000 employees to "enhance the customer experience". Additionally, after publication, employees claimed they were ordered by managers to correct price tags in a matter of days, however the company claims it was false and that it "hasn't issued any orders".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kravitz |first=Derek |date=14 May 2025 |title=Kroger Stores Overcharging Shoppers on Sale Items, CR Price Check Finds |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/kroger-stores-overcharging-shoppers-on-sale-items-a9659540552/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=Consumer Reports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Mary |date=16 May 2025 |title=Kroger overcharges customers for items marked as being on sale, Consumer Reports finds |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/krogers-price-tags-overcharges-consumer-reports/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Michael |last2=Kravitz |first2=Derek |last3=Ross |first3=Theodore |date=14 May 2025 |title=‘Customers are being duped’: how murky grocery sales tactics are squeezing some Kroger shoppers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/may/14/kroger-supermarket-sales-tactics |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=The Guardian}}</ref><blockquote>''"The characterization of widespread pricing concerns is blatantly false. the complaint noted by Consumer Reports included a few dozen examples across several years out of billions of customers transactions annually. While any error is unacceptable, the characterization of widespread pricing concerns is patently false"''<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2025 |title=Investigation finds some Kroger stores are overcharging customers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJDYWADkgJ0 |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref></blockquote>
Consumer Report, the Guardian, and the Food & Environment Reporting Network released a report on 14 May after conducting an 3 month long investigation into several Kroger stores in the U.S. that revealed several products expired tags were out of date by at least 10 days and were overpriced by around $1.70. Kroger initially responded by saying the investigation was inaccurate. A few weeks later on 29 May, the company announced hiring over 15,000 employees to "enhance the customer experience". Additionally, after publication, employees claimed they were ordered by managers to correct price tags in a matter of days, however the company claims it was false and that it "hasn't issued any orders".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kravitz |first=Derek |date=14 May 2025 |title=Kroger Stores Overcharging Shoppers on Sale Items, CR Price Check Finds |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/kroger-stores-overcharging-shoppers-on-sale-items-a9659540552/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=Consumer Reports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Mary |date=16 May 2025 |title=Kroger overcharges customers for items marked as being on sale, Consumer Reports finds |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/krogers-price-tags-overcharges-consumer-reports/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Michael |last2=Kravitz |first2=Derek |last3=Ross |first3=Theodore |date=14 May 2025 |title=‘Customers are being duped’: how murky grocery sales tactics are squeezing some Kroger shoppers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/may/14/kroger-supermarket-sales-tactics |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=The Guardian}}</ref><blockquote>''"The characterization of widespread pricing concerns is blatantly false. the complaint noted by Consumer Reports included a few dozen examples across several years out of billions of customers transactions annually. While any error is unacceptable, the characterization of widespread pricing concerns is patently false"''<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2025 |title=Investigation finds some Kroger stores are overcharging customers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJDYWADkgJ0 |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref></blockquote>


===Kroger Loyalty Programs collects extensive amount of customers' data (''2025'')===
===Kroger Loyalty Programs collects extensive customers' data (''2025'')===
An investigation by Consumer Reports detailed Kroger's extensive data collection from customers who signed up for their free loyalty card program. Data collected or inferred includes customer's income level, purchase history, educational level, household size, ethnicity, pet ownership, and online behavioral data. In addition to being used for personalized marketing and discounts, Kroger sells customer's profiles to other companies including data brokers, tobacco companies, financial institutions and healthcare technology companies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kravitz |first=Derek |date=21 May 2025 |title=Inside Kroger's Secret Shopper Profiles: Why You May Be Paying More Than Your Neighbors |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/kroger-secret-grocery-shopper-loyalty-profiles-unfair-a1011215563/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Consumer Reports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2025 |title=Consumer Reports investigation uncovers Kroger’s widespread data collection of loyalty program members to create secret shopper profiles |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2025/05/consumer-reports-investigation-uncovers-krogers-widespread-data-collection-of-loyalty-program-members-to-create-secret-shopper-profiles/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2026 |website=Consumer Reports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hori |first=Adrian |date=25 May 2025 |title=Kroger’s Data Practices Under Fire: Consumer Reports Exposes Privacy Violations and Discriminatory Pricing |url=https://captaincompliance.com/education/krogers-data-practices-under-fire-consumer-reports-exposes-privacy-violations-and-discriminatory-pricing/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2026 |website=Captain Compliance}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2025 |title=Consumer Reports investigates the true costs of loyalty programs |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5umCJXbvQM |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref>
An investigation by Consumer Reports detailed Kroger's extensive data collection from customers who signed up for their free loyalty card program. Data collected or inferred includes customer's income level, purchase history, educational level, household size, ethnicity, pet ownership, and online behavioral data. In addition to being used for personalized marketing and discounts, Kroger sells customer's profiles to other companies including data brokers, tobacco companies, financial institutions and healthcare technology companies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kravitz |first=Derek |date=21 May 2025 |title=Inside Kroger's Secret Shopper Profiles: Why You May Be Paying More Than Your Neighbors |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/kroger-secret-grocery-shopper-loyalty-profiles-unfair-a1011215563/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Consumer Reports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2025 |title=Consumer Reports investigation uncovers Kroger’s widespread data collection of loyalty program members to create secret shopper profiles |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2025/05/consumer-reports-investigation-uncovers-krogers-widespread-data-collection-of-loyalty-program-members-to-create-secret-shopper-profiles/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2026 |website=Consumer Reports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hori |first=Adrian |date=25 May 2025 |title=Kroger’s Data Practices Under Fire: Consumer Reports Exposes Privacy Violations and Discriminatory Pricing |url=https://captaincompliance.com/education/krogers-data-practices-under-fire-consumer-reports-exposes-privacy-violations-and-discriminatory-pricing/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2026 |website=Captain Compliance}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2025 |title=Consumer Reports investigates the true costs of loyalty programs |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5umCJXbvQM |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2026 |website=Youtube}}</ref>


==Lawsuits==
==Lawsuits==


===Kroger Bread Crumb (''2021'')===
Michael Hawkins filed a lawsuit on 15 October 2015{{Citation needed}} against Kroger over their product Kroger Bread Crumbs falsely advertising 0 grams trans fat per serving, instead containing artificial trans fats that can cause heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and death. Additionally, it also alleges the company didn't uphold food regulations since the product contained artificial trans fats. Kroger claimed plaintiff claims were preempted and evidence was question for legal ethnicity, lack of factual grounding, and  "unfair conduct'. On 17 March 2016, the case was dismissed with prejudice, citing the claims lack evidence to be "preempted by federal law".<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=HAWKINS v. KROGER COMPANY (2018) |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-9th-circuit/1956219.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=FindLaw}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=HAWKINS v. KROGER COMPANY (2021) |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-dis-crt-s-d-cal/2108265.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=FindLaw}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Hawkins v. Kroger Company |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/hawkins-v-kroger-company-889996017 |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Vlex}}</ref>
On 16 November 2018, the court reversed the dismissal, citing the plaintiff had enough evidence due to "adequately alleged that she relied on the label’s misrepresentations and would not have purchased the product without those misrepresentations", along with the plaintiff  label statement decided to not be preempted by federal regulations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Hawkins v. The Kroger Co., No. 16-55532 (9th Cir. 2018) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/16-55532/16-55532-2018-10-04.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Justia Law}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=HAWKINS v. KROGER COMPANY (2018) |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-9th-circuit/1956219.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=FindLaw}}</ref> Kroger filed a motion to dismiss the case on 08 November 2019, citing the plaintiff lack evidence, however it was denied on 04 April 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Hawkins v. Kroger Co. |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/hawkins-v-kroger-co-885587347 |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=vLex}}</ref>
After denial, Kroger began delaying the court process across several court hearing and refusing to apply plaintiffs with additional information, only occasionally giving information however it was unsupported formats or irrelevant information, citing it was acting on a legal basis. Additionally, the company made a request to deny plaintiff file to motion, citing the evidence and discovery was "preempted".  The plaintiff responded with the following;<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Shavonda HAWKINS on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. The KROGER COMPANY, Defendant |url=https://app.minerva26.com/case_law/25340-hawkins-v-kroger-co |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Minerva26}}</ref><blockquote>''"[t]he reality: our meet and confer efforts consisted of two conference calls between counsel, a third with the Court’s clerk, a formal 5-page letter, a large number of e-mails, and multiple offers of compromise. All this resulted in a total of zero substantive interrogatory responses and a total of 17 pages produced in partial response to one RFP."''</blockquote>The court eventually addressed this in a 16 September 2019 court case, ruling Plaintiff’s right to file a motion to compel and giving the company more time to create an response.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Hawkins v. Kroger Co., Case No.: 15cv2320-JM(BLM) |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/hawkins-v-kroger-co-894217484 |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=vLex}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Hawkins v. The Kroger Company, No. 3:2015cv02320 - Document 72 (S.D. Cal. 2019) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/casdce/3:2015cv02320/486913/72/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Justia}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><blockquote>''"Defendant asserted lengthy objections to each request, did not provide a substantive response to any of the interrogatories or RFPs, and did not produce any responsive documents or indicate a willingness to produce any documents. This is unacceptable and not in compliance with the spirit or requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. To make matters worse, Defendant supplemented its responses on July 11, 2019 but the supplemental responses provided minimal substance and Defendant did not produce any documents."''</blockquote>Due to Kroger repeated failure in producing documents, the court gave the company a deadline till 07 October, however the company failed to meet past the deadline. In a 23 April 2020 case hearing, the court highlighted the company constant refusal to provide information, resulting in the court ordering Kroger's counsels Heather Canner and Jacob Harper 8 hours of Continuing Legal Education, with half of which delving into ethics and discovery practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=HAWKINS v. KROGER COMPANY (2021) |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-dis-crt-s-d-cal/2108265.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=FindLaw}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Hawkins v. The Kroger Company, No. 3:2015cv02320 - Document 140 (S.D. Cal. 2020) |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/classaura-announces-kroger-bread-crumbs-class-action-settlement-301355399.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Justia Law}}</ref> <blockquote>''"Here, it is apparent to the Court from defense counsel’s persistent evasion of providing full discovery responses to Plaintiff, even in the face of an order compelling Defendant to do so and issuing monetary sanctions, that simply issuing monetary sanctions under Rule 37(b)(2)(C) a second time is not “up to the task” of adequately addressing the discovery abuses before the Court. the Court is left with the impression that either Kroger’s counsel earnestly—and mistakenly—believes their approach to discovery is consistent with the rules, or else they are operating under “a sporting chance theory encouraging parties to withhold vital information from the other side with the hope that the withholding may not be discovered and, if so, that it would only result in a fine"''</blockquote>On  January 24, 2021, the case reached a settlement of $780,000, requiring the company compensate affected customer up to $100. Kroger claims it reached a settlement to avoids the burden of continuing legal proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 August 2021 |title=Kroger Bread Crumbs $780K False Advertising Class Action Settlement |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/kroger-bread-crumbs-780k-false-advertising-class-action-settlement/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Kroger Bread Crumb Settlement (CA only) |url=https://classactionrebates.com/settlements-1/kroger-bread-crumb/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=classactionrebates}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=16 August 2021 |title=Classaura Announces Kroger Bread Crumbs Class Action Settlement |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/classaura-announces-kroger-bread-crumbs-class-action-settlement-301355399.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2026 |website=PR Newswire}}</ref>
===Misleading Prescription drug prices (''2026'')===
===Misleading Prescription drug prices (''2026'')===
Plaintiff Judy Kirkbride filed a class action complaint against Kroger on 05 January 2021 over allegedly conducting an pricing scheme on customers with third-party insurance providers on prescription medication products.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Katherine |date=5 January 2021 |title=Kroger Overcharges Insurance for Generic Drugs Claims, Class Action Lawsuit |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/kroger-overcharges-insurance-for-generic-drugs-claims-class-action-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref> Plaintiff claims the company mislead customers by excluding Rx Savings Club discount from "[[wikipedia:Usual,_customary_and_reasonable|usual and customary prices]]", resulting in customers overpaying for medication products.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2026 |title=Kirkbride v. The Kroger Co., No. 2:2021cv00022 - Document 42 (S.D. Ohio 2022) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/ohio/ohsdce/2:2021cv00022/250145/42/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Justia U.S. Law}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2026 |title=Kirkbride v. The Kroger Co., No. 2:2021cv00022 - Document 153 (S.D. Ohio 2025) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/ohio/ohsdce/2:2021cv00022/250145/153/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Justia U.S. Law}}</ref> Kroger denied the claims, arguing it has "no duty to disclose its [[wikipedia:Usual,_customary_and_reasonable|usual and customary prices]]". <ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2021 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO EASTERN DIVISION |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ohsd-2_21-cv-00022/pdf/USCOURTS-ohsd-2_21-cv-00022-0.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=govinfo.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2026 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO EASTERN DIVISION |url=https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/ohio/ohsdce/2:2021cv00022/250145/62/0.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Justia U.S. Law}}</ref> The case would reach a $17 million settlement in late March 2026, compensating customers purchases between 09 December 2018 .<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Kroger Had a Discount Prescription Club. Insured Customers Say They Never Got the Benefit — and Overpaid Every Time. |url=https://allaboutlawyer.com/kroger-17000000-prescription-drug-copay-inflation-settlement/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=All About Lawyer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2026 |title=Kroger agrees to $17M class action settlement over prescription drug prices |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/kroger-agrees-to-17m-class-action-settlement-over-prescription-drug-prices/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref>
Plaintiff Judy Kirkbride filed a class action complaint against Kroger on 05 January 2021 over allegedly conducting an pricing scheme on customers with third-party insurance providers on prescription medication products.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Katherine |date=5 January 2021 |title=Kroger Overcharges Insurance for Generic Drugs Claims, Class Action Lawsuit |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/kroger-overcharges-insurance-for-generic-drugs-claims-class-action-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref> Plaintiff claims the company mislead customers by excluding Rx Savings Club discount from "[[wikipedia:Usual,_customary_and_reasonable|usual and customary prices]]", resulting in customers overpaying for medication products.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2026 |title=Kirkbride v. The Kroger Co., No. 2:2021cv00022 - Document 42 (S.D. Ohio 2022) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/ohio/ohsdce/2:2021cv00022/250145/42/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Justia U.S. Law}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2026 |title=Kirkbride v. The Kroger Co., No. 2:2021cv00022 - Document 153 (S.D. Ohio 2025) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/ohio/ohsdce/2:2021cv00022/250145/153/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Justia U.S. Law}}</ref> Kroger denied the claims, arguing it has "no duty to disclose its [[wikipedia:Usual,_customary_and_reasonable|usual and customary prices]]". <ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2021 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO EASTERN DIVISION |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ohsd-2_21-cv-00022/pdf/USCOURTS-ohsd-2_21-cv-00022-0.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=govinfo.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2026 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO EASTERN DIVISION |url=https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/ohio/ohsdce/2:2021cv00022/250145/62/0.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Justia U.S. Law}}</ref> The case would reach a $17 million settlement in late March 2026, compensating customers purchases between 09 December 2018 .<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Kroger Had a Discount Prescription Club. Insured Customers Say They Never Got the Benefit — and Overpaid Every Time. |url=https://allaboutlawyer.com/kroger-17000000-prescription-drug-copay-inflation-settlement/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=All About Lawyer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2026 |title=Kroger agrees to $17M class action settlement over prescription drug prices |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/kroger-agrees-to-17m-class-action-settlement-over-prescription-drug-prices/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref>
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