A proposed class-action lawsuit launched in British Columbia alleges Loblaws, Walmart Canada and Sobeys 鈥渕isrepresented鈥� the weight of meat products by including the weight of packaging in calculating prices.

Lead plaintiff Carrie Corrall says in a Federal Court lawsuit filed in Vancouver on Jan. 9 that she鈥檚 a B.C. mother that regularly spends 鈥渉undreds or thousands of dollars鈥� each year on meat products.

The lawsuit alleges grocers are using 鈥渄eceptive means鈥� that violate federal and provincial regulations by including packaging weight in the price of raw and cooked meat products that are sold by weight.

The statement of claim alleges the practices mean Canadians have been 鈥渞egularly overpaying for meat products鈥� at the defendants鈥� grocery stores.

A judge still needs to certify the class proceeding, which is seeking punitive damages due to the alleged deception coming at a time of high inflation and when grocers have publicly committed to keeping prices low while 鈥渄iscretely overcharging鈥� consumers.

None of the allegations have been proven in court and Loblaws, Walmart Canada and Sobeys were not immediately available to comment on the allegations.

The lawsuit says the topic of high food prices has been the subject of 鈥渃ountless news stories,鈥� and the legal action was filed shortly after CBC News revealed the alleged practices in an investigation published last week.