Aldi SNAP,EBT Pricing Lawsuit Dismissed, What It Alleged and What Happens Next — La Tour II v. Aldi Foods, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-08737

If you used SNAP/EBT benefits on an Aldi online order, you may have seen headlines about a class action over unequal pricing. Here is the key update: the federal case, La Tour II v. Aldi Foods, Inc., et al., No. 2:26-cv-08737-JFW-MBKx, was dismissed without prejudice on September 21, 2026. There is no settlement, no claim form and no payout in that case.

Aldi SNAP/EBT Pricing Lawsuit — Key Facts

Detail	What we know
Lawsuit	La Tour II v. Aldi Foods, Inc., et al.
Plaintiff	Sir Caesar La Tour II
Defendants	Aldi Foods, Inc.; Aldi, Inc.; Aldi Express; and Does 1–50
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 2:26-cv-08737-JFW-MBKx
Judge	Judge John F. Walter
Origin	Filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court (No. 26STCV16949); Aldi removed it to federal court on August 6, 2026
Alleged Harm	Unequal pricing or treatment of SNAP/EBT shoppers on online orders
Law Alleged	California Unfair Competition Law, according to reports of the complaint. Federal SNAP rules are cited as background
Class Certified?	No
Current Status	Dismissed without prejudice on September 21, 2026
Settlement Status	None
Claim Deadline	None
Can You File a Claim?	No
Docket Last Checked	October 5, 2026
Last Updated	October 5, 2026

What Happened to the Aldi SNAP/EBT Lawsuit?

The case began in Los Angeles County Superior Court in May 2026, according to press reports. On August 6, 2026, Aldi removed it to the federal court in the Central District of California, which is a common step when a defendant wants a case heard in federal court.

On September 21, 2026, Judge John F. Walter granted the plaintiff’s voluntary dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The order says the case is dismissed in its entirety without prejudice, with each side paying its own attorney’s fees and costs, and the case is terminated.

The order doesn’t say Aldi admitted anything, that the allegations were proven, or that the court ruled on whether Aldi’s pricing broke any rule.

What Does “Without Prejudice” Mean?

It means the claims weren’t decided on their merits, so a plaintiff may be able to bring them again, depending on the law and deadlines. It doesn’t mean another case is pending, and it doesn’t mean the plaintiff won.

Is There a New Aldi SNAP/EBT Lawsuit?

Possibly. Law360 reported on September 29, 2026 that a proposed class action over Aldi’s online fees for SNAP users had been filed the day before in California state court. We haven’t reviewed that filing and can’t confirm whether it is a refiled version of the same claims. No claim process has been reported in any Aldi SNAP/EBT case.

If you see a site promoting an “Aldi SNAP settlement” with a claim form, treat it as unreliable. No settlement exists.

Related article: Carhartt Data Breach Lawsuit, Were You Affected? — Sebastian v. Carhartt, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-13464-LJM-APP

Who Is Aldi and Why Was It Sued?

Aldi is a discount grocery chain that sells online through Instacart and its own Aldi Express service. The lawsuit targeted how those online orders were priced and charged when shoppers paid with SNAP/EBT benefits.

SNAP and EBT are federal benefits meant to help low-income households buy food, so how online orders are charged to those benefits matters to many shoppers.

What Did the Aldi Lawsuit Allege?

According to press reports describing the complaint, La Tour bought five grocery items from Aldi through Instacart using an EBT card. The total was $25.45, with $19.34 charged to SNAP benefits. He then placed a second order for the same items around the same time using a non-EBT debit card, and that total was $22.61. The complaint’s theory, as reported, was that the payment method was the main difference between the orders.

The suit also reportedly alleged that Aldi’s online system either charged SNAP shoppers more for eligible groceries or let SNAP benefits be applied toward delivery, expedited fulfillment or convenience charges that SNAP can’t cover. It asserted a claim under California’s Unfair Competition Law and reportedly sought class certification and public injunctive relief to stop the alleged practices.

A difference between two online totals doesn’t by itself prove a violation. Online orders can include delivery and service fees, taxes, promotions and minimums. These were allegations by the plaintiff, and no court decided them. Aldi was not found liable. We haven’t reviewed the complaint itself.

Why Does SNAP Require Equal Treatment?

Federal SNAP rules say authorized stores must sell eligible foods to SNAP customers at the same prices and on the same terms as cash purchases of the same foods at that store. That equal-treatment requirement appears in 7 C.F.R. § 278.2, and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service describes it the same way in its guidance. USDA also says SNAP benefits can’t be used to pay delivery or similar charges on online orders.

Whether Aldi’s online setup actually broke those rules was never decided in this case.

Are You Part of the Aldi SNAP/EBT Lawsuit?

No class was ever certified in the federal case, so no one was officially included. Based on the reported allegations, the people the suit was about were shoppers who:

• Paid with SNAP/EBT on Aldi online orders placed through Instacart or Aldi Express
• Saw higher prices or different terms than on a comparable non-EBT order
• Had SNAP benefits applied toward charges SNAP can’t cover

This describes who the allegations concerned. It’s not a court-approved class definition.

Do Aldi SNAP/EBT Shoppers Outside California Have Any Claim?

The case was filed in California and relied on a California law, and no nationwide class was ever certified. Whether shoppers in other states could take part in any future case would depend on that case’s class definition and the laws it uses.

Can Heirs, Businesses, or Households Take Part?

No class exists, so there’s no official answer. If a future case defines a class, its definition and notice would explain how households sharing benefits, estates and businesses are treated.

Not sure whether an Aldi online order of yours was charged correctly? A free consultation with a consumer protection attorney can help you understand your options.

Can Aldi SNAP/EBT Shoppers Get Money From This Lawsuit?

No. The federal case ended without a settlement, so there’s no fund, no administrator, no claim form and no deadline.

Zero dollars are available to claim today, and that’s the only number that’s real.

What Should Aldi SNAP/EBT Shoppers Do Now?

1. Don’t look for a sign-up. No claim process exists for the dismissed federal case.
2. Save your order records. Keep Instacart and Aldi Express confirmations, receipts and screenshots of fee line items.
3. Write down what paid for what. Note the order date, the total, how much went to your EBT card and what went to another card.
4. Raise real problems. If an EBT charge looks wrong, you can contact the retailer or your state SNAP agency with your records.
5. Keep an eye out for a new case. Check California state court records and the Central District of California docket for new filings against Aldi.
6. Know your individual options. A consumer protection attorney can explain what’s open to you. Time limits apply to any claim.
7. Protect your card. Nobody legitimate needs your EBT card number or PIN to follow a lawsuit.

Aldi SNAP/EBT Pricing Lawsuit — Full Timeline

Date	Event	Source
May 2026	Complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court (reported)	Press and court-record summaries
August 6, 2026	Aldi removes the case to the Central District of California	Federal docket
September 21, 2026	Voluntary dismissal granted; case dismissed without prejudice and terminated	Federal docket, Filing 22
September 28, 2026 (reported)	New proposed class action over Aldi online fees reportedly filed in California state court	Law360 report; not reviewed
None reported as of October 5, 2026	Class certification in any Aldi SNAP/EBT case
None reported as of October 5, 2026	Settlement

Aldi SNAP/EBT Pricing Lawsuit — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 2:26-cv-08737

Is there an Aldi SNAP class action right now? 

The federal case was dismissed on September 21, 2026. A news report says a new proposed class action was filed in California state court on September 28, 2026, but we haven’t reviewed it. No class has been certified.

Was there an Aldi SNAP settlement? 

No. There was no settlement or settlement fund in the federal case.

Can I file an Aldi SNAP claim? 

No. No claim process exists.

Did Aldi admit to overcharging SNAP customers?

 No. The case contained allegations by the plaintiff, and the court didn’t decide them.

Why was the case dismissed? 

The plaintiff voluntarily dismissed it under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), and the court granted that on September 21, 2026. The order doesn’t give a reason.

Does “dismissed without prejudice” mean the plaintiff won? 

No. It means the case ended without a final ruling on the merits.

Can SNAP customers be charged different prices? Federal rules generally require eligible foods to be sold to SNAP customers at the same prices and on the same terms as cash purchases, with limited exceptions. Delivery and service charges follow separate rules.

Was a class certified?

 No.

Can I file my own lawsuit against Aldi?

 Possibly, but it’s a legal decision with time limits. A consumer protection attorney can explain your options.

What does “lead plaintiff” mean here?

 Lead plaintiff deadlines mainly arise in securities cases. None applies to this consumer case.

How much could shoppers get? 

Nothing is available now, and any dollar figure you see online is a guess.

Sources Used in This Aldi SNAP/EBT Pricing Article

• Court order — La Tour II v. Aldi Foods, Inc., et al., No. 2:26-cv-08737-JFW-MBKx (C.D. Cal.), Filing 22, Order for Dismissal, September 21, 2026, Justia: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/cacdce/2:2026cv08737/1032940/22
• Docket — La Tour II v. Aldi Inc. dba Aldi Foods, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-08737 (C.D. Cal.), Notice of Removal filed August 6, 2026 from Los Angeles County Superior Court No. 26STCV16949, Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/cacdce/2:2026cv08737/1032940
• News report — Law360, “Aldi Sued Over Online Order Delivery Fees By SNAP Users,” September 29, 2026 (paywalled; public excerpt only): https://www.law360.com/consumerprotection/articles/2531544
• Regulation — 7 C.F.R. § 278.2, Participation of retail food stores
• Government source — USDA Food and Nutrition Service, “Stores Accepting SNAP Online”: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online
• Complaint — Original state-court complaint and any new filing: not reviewed

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. Facts checked against the federal docket and dismissal order, USDA Food and Nutrition Service materials and press reports on October 5, 2026. The complaint itself was not reviewed. We’ll update this article if a new case is confirmed. Last Updated: October 5, 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.