Deceptive advertising practices and misrepresentations will result in legal action
In a recent legal development, Arby’s, the renowned roast beef sandwich chain, is under scrutiny when a customer files a class action lawsuit questioning the amount of meat in their sandwiches. Joseph Langis, the plaintiff, alleges that Arby’s engaged in deceptive advertising practices, which may have misled customers. The lawsuit, filed on September 5 in a federal court in New York, seeks compensation for alleged damages resulting from allegedly “unfair and deceptive business practices.”
A misleading dish: dissatisfaction and deception
Joseph Langis’ dissatisfaction arose after he ordered a Smokehouse Brisket sandwich that bore little resemblance to the delicious image in Arby’s advertisements. According to attorney Anthony Russo, the core of the problem lies in the large discrepancy between the advertised images and the actual contents of the sandwiches. The lawsuit claims that Arby’s promotional photos “contain approximately 100% more meat than what the actual sandwiches customers receive contain.” Arby’s reportedly packs an abundance of meat into a sandwich prepared especially for photo shoots, cleverly arranged with props to create the illusion of larger size.
Quality problems and misrepresentations
The lawsuit further accuses Arby’s of misrepresenting the quality of its meat by highlighting rare roast beef in advertisements while serving a less impressive variety to customers. To bolster these claims, the court documents present side-by-side comparisons of the sandwiches advertised by Arby and the items received by customers.
Representing dissatisfied customers
Joseph Langis is acting as an agent for himself and for “similarly situated individuals” who purchased various Arby’s menu items in New York, including Arby’s Classic Roast Beef, Double Roast Beef, Half Pound Roast Beef, Classic Beef ‘N Cheddar , Double Beef ‘N Cheddar, Half Pound Beef ‘N Cheddar and/or Smokehouse Brisket. The complaint highlights that Arby’s advertising practices harm consumers because they receive a product that is materially different from the product advertised.
Legal allegations and implications
The lawsuit makes several legal allegations against Arby’s, including violations of New York’s Deceptive Acts and Practices Act, breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Joseph Langis claims that if he had been aware that his sandwich would contain only half the advertised meat and not have rare roast beef, he would not have made the purchase. The lawsuit is of particular importance in the current economic climate, with high inflation and rising food and meat prices, putting financial pressure on many consumers, especially those on lower incomes.
As this legal dispute unfolds, it raises questions about the limits of advertising practices in the food industry and underlines the importance of transparency in meeting customer expectations. Arby’s will have to address these allegations in court, potentially reshaping the landscape of fast food advertising and consumer rights.