Something may be rotten in Walmart State. No, we’re not talking about that package of bacon that someone stuck on the shelf in the drive-thru aisle. We’re talking about potentially legally questionable differences in its labeling practices. In a series of now-viral posts, TikTok user Jimmy Wrigg discovered that many of the chain’s prepackaged meat products did not match the weight listed on the label. In one video, Rieger weighs several packages of Kentucky Legend ham and takes measurements based on the labels. He found that many of the cuts weighed less than half the list price.
The weight disparity caused quite a stir online, with many echoing Rigg’s call for pricing accuracy and transparency. To many, this appears to be another way for retailers to try to squeeze money out of shoppers already facing high grocery prices. Such a large discrepancy between label weight and actual weight is not only bad business practice, it is also illegal because it constitutes misleading packaging.
Read more: 6 Big Changes Coming to Walmart in 2026
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Meat on the Scale – 0802290022/Getty Images
Of course, accusations of illegal business practices are a very serious matter. So before jumping straight on the meat fraud train, there are a few things to consider. While large weight differences may be illegal, smaller differences (if the package is off by just a few ounces) are within the allowed accuracy range. Another aspect of this puzzle to consider is the accuracy of grocery store scales. Most states do have regulatory practices regarding grocery scales to ensure accurate measurements. Rieger did test the scale by hand before weighing the ham and did find a small difference, but not enough to make up for the huge difference in the label weight and the actual weight.
Another possibility? The weight of water. Many meat products have water added during processing. For example, ham is often packaged with “natural juices.” This temporarily increases the weight of the meat product and is often lost during or after the packaging process. For example, the pads on the bottom of the chicken may absorb some of the moisture from the chicken. This water is not only added to the bulk product; It also helps with food safety.
However, some of the weight differences reported online by disgruntled customers appear to go well beyond a little water or a miscalibrated scale. If you’re worried about accurate pricing when you go to the grocery store, be sure to weigh the meat before buying. If you suspect inaccurate labeling practices, you can report it to the USDA.
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Read the original article on Foodie.