Hidden fees have become a wider target for federal regulators as online platforms add more charges between the advertised price and the final checkout screen. That scrutiny now extends to grocery delivery, where the Federal Trade Commission is examining whether shoppers are seeing the full cost of convenience early enough in the ordering process.
The FTC has opened a formal review of grocery and food delivery fees
The Federal Trade Commission announced on April 24, 2026, that it is seeking public comment on whether a rule is needed to address unfair or deceptive fee practices tied to online food and grocery delivery platforms nationwide, according to the agency. The FTC said it wants input on whether platforms clearly disclose the total price for food or grocery items ordered for delivery or pickup, including fees and other charges that may appear later in checkout.
The agency’s move is notable because it is a formal federal rulemaking step, not just a general warning. In the notice, the FTC pointed to concerns about whether apps disclose what fees shoppers will pay, what those fees are for, and whether platforms use variable or personalized pricing. The agency also cited reports suggesting that hidden or misleading charges remain an issue in delivery orders.
The FTC tied the new review to prior enforcement. It said that in December 2025, Instacart agreed to a $60 million settlement over allegations that it advertised “free delivery” on consumers’ first three orders and then charged service fees that were not disclosed until checkout. The FTC’s announcement did not say a final grocery-delivery rule is imminent, but it did make clear that regulators are actively gathering evidence about pricing practices across the sector.
What this means for shoppers across the U.S. right now
For consumers, the immediate impact is not a new fee ban but closer federal attention to how delivery prices are presented. The FTC has not announced a nationwide rule for grocery delivery fees, and it has not released a list of specific companies under active review beyond the examples already made public. What is confirmed is that regulators are asking whether shoppers can see the total cost upfront, before spending time filling a cart.
That matters because grocery delivery prices can differ from in-store prices, and added charges can stack on top of those markups. The FTC’s consumer guidance says shoppers should pay attention to the total price of delivery, including fees, what those fees are for and when they are charged. The agency has also asked consumers whether apps clearly explain variable or personalized pricing, an issue that could mean different users see different prices.
For now, shoppers should expect the current checkout process on many apps to remain in place while the FTC collects comments and weighs next steps. The agency has not said whether any future rule would apply to every platform in the same way, and it has not set a final timeline for action on grocery delivery fees.
Why regulators are focusing on drip pricing and hidden charges
The broader context is the FTC’s campaign against so-called junk fees, especially pricing that becomes clearer only near the end of a transaction. The agency’s existing Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025, but that rule applies specifically to live-event tickets and short-term lodging, not grocery delivery. In announcing that rule, the FTC said it would continue pursuing bait-and-switch pricing tactics and misleading fees in other industries through case-by-case enforcement.
The FTC has repeatedly focused on “drip pricing,” where mandatory charges are disclosed only as a shopper moves through checkout. In its grocery-delivery inquiry, the agency is asking whether platforms clearly disclose the total price and whether labels attached to fees are understandable to consumers. That includes whether shoppers can tell what a charge covers and whether a separate tip is going to the driver.
For customers, the practical takeaway is that federal regulators are paying attention to how grocery delivery costs are displayed, not just how high those costs are. Any eventual rule would likely center on clearer upfront pricing and more specific fee disclosure, based on the questions the FTC has put to the public and the agency’s recent enforcement posture on hidden charges.