Fan-favorite Arby’s is hit with new lawsuit over troubling industry trend

Arby’s has been accused in a lawsuit of cutting back on the number of meals it serves – a disturbing trend that has rattled fast-food aficionados.

A New York resident filed a class action lawsuit against the chain known for its roast beef sandwiches, claiming the restaurant shrunk the size of its fries and drinks without lowering prices or notifying customers the changes.

“Arby’s continues to deceptively sell its fries and beverages in smaller sizes, which are now significantly smaller than the old sizes,” the complaint said. New York Post.

“The price increase may never be noticed by Arby’s buyers, who may be left with just a strange feeling, without satiation, even if it was due to… downsizing.”

The lawsuit alleges that Arby’s reduced the size of its children’s fries, which in turn reduced the size of the small, medium and large portions.

The fast-food chain did the same with its drinks “without any corresponding price reduction… or disclosure to its customers,” the complaint said.

As of now, Arby’s fries cost $3.74 for a small portion, $4.49 for a medium and $4.99 for a large portion.

The lawsuit comes amid the proliferation of shrinkflation and greedflation.

Arby’s was hit with another class action lawsuit in 2023.

The restaurant was accused of false advertising regarding its roast beef sandwiches and other menu items.

‘Marketing material shows sandwiches with plentiful, high-quality meat, but the reality is customers receive less than half of the meat advertised’ according to The Russian companywho represented the plaintiff.

“In addition, the meat is of much lower quality than advertised, which means that the plaintiff has had negative experiences with the fast food chain.”

Examples of the alleged false advertisements in the court file were images used for media and food delivery apps.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff purchased the items from September 5, 2020 through the filing date of 2023.

One example came after the plaintiff purchased a Double Beef ‘N Cheddar for $7.69 and a Smokehouse Brisket sandwich for $7.39 in 2023.

He claimed the sandwiches contained no rare roast beef and only half the meat expected from the advertisements.

Arby’s filed a motion to dismiss the case shortly thereafter, and the case was pending as of November 2024.

The latest lawsuit comes years in which fast-food customers have noticed an increase in greed – or excessive price increases to increase profits.

It is also a possible reason why customers have grown tired of product price increases.

Prices at fast food restaurants have slowly exceeded the rate of inflation over the past five years.

“Nothing has made me want to cook at home more than fast food prices,” Virginia resident Kevin Roberts said CBS Money Watch in May 2024.

Roberts expressed his anger about the price increases at McDonald’s and Taco Bell.

“The whole conceit was that you were getting a reasonable standard of food for a low price and you could get it quickly,” Roberts said.

‘Now I can’t justify the costs. If I pay $15 for a burger, fries and drink and it’s McDonalds quality, forget it, I’m going home.”

In addition to shrinkflation and greedflation, false advertising has become a growing problem in the restaurant industry.

The Russo Firm explained why Arby’s alleged ad fraud caused more harm than good to the plaintiff and other potential customers.

“Their gross misrepresentation of product quality could impact the economic position of consumers as inflation, food and meat prices are high,” said attorney Anthony Russo.

“Many families are watching their spending and are not getting what they paid for at Arby’s.”

McDonald’s and Wendy’s have also been defendants in a false advertising lawsuit brought by a customer.

The plaintiff in those cases filed the 2022 lawsuit, accusing the chains of using undercooked patties in advertisements.

The lawsuit alleged that the companies took this action because “fully cooked hamburgers tend to shrink and appear less appetizing” and customers “receive food that is much lower in value than what is promised.”

U.S. District Judge Hector Gonzalez concluded that the images “are no different than other companies’ use of visually appealing images to promote positive associations with their products.”

Gonzalez dismissed the case in 2023 after ruling that the restaurant chains did not use misleading advertising.

The plaintiffs in both lawsuits against Arby are seeking damages from the restaurant.

The plaintiff in the false advertising case is seeking economic damages as reimbursement for the money he spent on the food orders.

He also wants a preliminary injunction: a court ruling that requires a party to make changes or act in a certain way after a court outcome.

The ruling would mean that Arby’s is required “to provide corrected advertising and/or stop selling inflated menu items.”