Aldi Lawsuit 2026: SNAP/EBT Shoppers Say They Paid More Online
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The newest Aldi lawsuit, as of October 5, 2026, was filed on September 24, 2026. A California shopper alleges that Aldi’s online ordering charged people paying with SNAP/EBT more than people paying by card for the same groceries. It is a new, proposed class action. As of October 5, 2026 there is no settlement, no fund and no claim form — so there is no Aldi class action payout to collect yet.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the SNAP/EBT Lawsuit Says
The plaintiff, Sir Caesar La Tour II, sued Aldi Foods Inc., Aldi Inc. and Aldi Express. The complaint alleges that he ordered the same five Aldi items through the Instacart app twice on May 4, at about the same time, from the same store. Paid with his EBT card, the order came to $25.45, with $19.34 taken from his SNAP benefits. Paid with a regular debit card, the same order came to $22.61, with a $17.78 item subtotal.
Federal SNAP rules require retailers to charge benefit users the same prices, on the same terms, as everyone else. The lawsuit alleges that Aldi either charged SNAP users more for eligible food, or let SNAP benefits cover delivery, expedited-fulfillment or convenience fees that SNAP money cannot legally pay for. It claims a violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law and asks the court to stop the practice (“public injunctive relief”).
These are allegations, not findings. Aldi says on its website that EBT cards cannot be used for tips, delivery fees, ordering fees or convenience fees on online orders. Supermarket News reported on October 2, 2026 that an Aldi spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Case Details
The case was filed in California Superior Court, according to Supermarket News, citing Law360. It was then moved (“removed”) to federal court: La Tour II v. Aldi Foods Inc., et al., Case No. 2:26-cv-08737, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, per Top Class Actions.
The Aldi lawsuit over packaging is a different case. On May 27, 2025, Mondelez — maker of Oreo, Ritz and Wheat Thins — sued Aldi in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Mondelez International, Inc. v. Aldi Inc, No. 1:25-cv-05905). It alleges Aldi’s store-brand boxes copy the look of at least seven Mondelez brands. That is a company-against-company trademark case; shoppers are not class members and get nothing from it.
Status: New Case, No Settlement
Mondelez packaging case — pretrial. As of August 29, 2026, the legal blog Lawfold reported the case was still in fact discovery with no trial date. We could not open the court docket to confirm that.
Aldi lawsuit horse meat searches. These point back to February 2013, when Aldi withdrew frozen beef lasagne and spaghetti bolognese in Ireland after tests found 30% to 100% horse meat. That was a food-fraud scandal in Europe; we found no U.S. lawsuit or settlement tied to it.
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There's no claim deadline yet. We'll email you if a settlement opens a claim period.
Who Could Be Covered
The complaint describes shoppers who paid for Aldi groceries online with SNAP/EBT benefits — for example through Instacart or Aldi Express — and were charged more, or had benefits applied to fees. The case was filed by a California consumer under a California law, so a court may limit any class to California. The exact class definition has not been tested by a judge.
You do not need to sign up. If a class is ever certified or a settlement reached, a court-appointed administrator sends notice. What helps you now is evidence: keep your Instacart or Aldi order receipts showing the EBT and card amounts, and your EBT transaction history.
Is There an Aldi Class Action Payout?
The Aldi class action settlement that is real is for Australian workers. A union-funded case in Australia’s Federal Court over unpaid work before and after shifts covers about 32,000 current and former Aldi staff. Aldi says it has already paid around $28.9 million, and the proposed settlement claims a further $26.3 million is due, per Inside FMCG. The deadline to object or opt out was 4.00 pm on 12 August 2026. As of October 5, 2026, the SDA’s page says final court approval has not been given and payment registration has not opened. U.S. shoppers are not part of it.
An older U.S. case, Mendoza v. ALDI, Inc., settled for $4,500,000 over background-check forms for job applicants from June 18, 2014 through June 18, 2021; its fairness hearing was set for May 3, 2022. To estimate what a settlement share could be worth in general, use our class action payout calculator.
Aldi Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
February 2013 — Horse Meat Withdrawals
Aldi withdraws frozen beef lasagne and spaghetti bolognese in Ireland after a supplier alert; Irish regulators report 30% to 100% horse meat.
- 2
November 2020 — SNAP Online Orders Begin
Aldi starts accepting SNAP payments for online delivery orders through Instacart.
- 3
May 27, 2025 — Mondelez Packaging Suit
Mondelez sues Aldi in federal court in Illinois, alleging store-brand packaging copies Oreo, Ritz, Wheat Thins and other brands.
- 4
September 24, 2026 — SNAP/EBT Class Action Filed
A California shopper files a proposed class action in California Superior Court alleging SNAP users paid more online.
- 5
Early October 2026 — Moved to Federal Court
By October 3, 2026, the case is pending in the Central District of California as No. 2:26-cv-08737.
- 6
As of October 5, 2026 — No Settlement
No class certified, no settlement, no claim form and no deadline in the SNAP/EBT case.
Three Things to Watch For
A new lawsuit about benefits money, plus a real settlement in another country, gives scammers an easy script:
“Claim your Aldi SNAP refund” forms
There is no refund program and no claim form. Never type your EBT card number or PIN into any site promising SNAP money back — stolen EBT details are drained quickly and benefits are hard to recover.
Posts about a “$55 million Aldi payout”
That figure comes from the Australian workers’ case. It does not cover U.S. shoppers, and no one can enroll you in it for a fee.
Aldi gift-card “settlement” surveys
Texts and social posts offering an Aldi gift card as lawsuit compensation in exchange for a survey or shipping fee are not from any court. Real settlement notices come from a named administrator and never ask for payment.
Aldi Lawsuit — Questions People Actually Ask
What is the Aldi lawsuit 2026 about?
A California shopper alleges Aldi’s online ordering charged SNAP/EBT users more than card users for the same groceries, or let SNAP benefits pay for fees. It was filed September 24, 2026 and is now La Tour II v. Aldi Foods Inc., No. 2:26-cv-08737, in federal court in Los Angeles.
Is there an Aldi class action settlement I can file for?
Not in the U.S. As of October 5, 2026, the SNAP/EBT case has no settlement and no claim form. The Aldi settlement in the news earlier in 2026 is for Australian employees only. Our open class action settlements list shows cases you can file in now.
I paid with EBT on Instacart. Am I included?
Possibly, if a class is certified — but nothing has been decided, and the case is brought under California law. You do not need to join anything now. Keep your receipts. For Instacart’s own legal issues, see our Instacart lawsuit page.
Can SNAP pay for delivery fees?
No. SNAP covers eligible food only. Aldi itself says EBT cannot pay tips, delivery, ordering or convenience fees; those must go on another card. The lawsuit alleges the checkout did not always work that way in practice.
What about the Aldi lawsuit packaging story?
That is Mondelez suing Aldi over lookalike store-brand cookie and cracker boxes, filed May 27, 2025 in Illinois federal court. It is between two companies. Shoppers are not part of it and will not receive money from it.
Was there an Aldi lawsuit horse meat case?
People searching “Aldi lawsuit horse meat” are usually remembering 2013, when Aldi withdrew frozen lasagne and bolognese in Ireland that tested 30% to 100% horse meat, traced to a French supplier. We found no U.S. lawsuit about it.
Has Aldi paid U.S. class action settlements before?
Yes, for example Mendoza v. ALDI, Inc., a $4,500,000 settlement over background-check forms given to job applicants. That case concerned job applicants, not groceries or SNAP; its fairness hearing was set for May 3, 2022.
Is a letter or text about an Aldi class action payout real?
For the SNAP/EBT case, no — nothing is payable as of October 5, 2026. Any message asking for your EBT number, PIN or a fee is a scam. A real notice names the case, the court and an administrator you can check independently.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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