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The Riverside County  District Attorney's office has settled a suit with grocers Fresh & Easy.

Prosecutors filed a civil complaint in San Diego County alleging that Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, Inc. posted prices and advertisements in Fresh & Easy grocery stores listing a price for items but then charged consumers more than those prices at the time of checkout.

Additionally, prosecutors alleged that meat and seafood packages in the meat department were marked at a higher price per pound than indicated on the shelf. Such actions violate laws prohibiting false advertising and unfair competition. 

As part of the settlement, Fresh & Easy was ordered not to commit violations in the future and toinstitute, for the next three years, a “Get It Free” program. In that program, shoppers at Fresh & Easy stores throughout California will be entitled to receive $3 off the lowest advertised price of an item if they are overcharged at the register. If the lowest advertised price for the item is $3 or less, the consumer will receive it for free. 

There are 13 Fresh & Easy grocery stores in Riverside County. 

As part of the settlement, the corporation must pay the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office $217,823 in penalties plus an additional $10,000 in costs.  An additional $2,484 must be paid to the Riverside County Division of Weights and Measures.