7-Eleven
Flagged · AvoidDenied thousands of workers their legally required meal breaks and completed a merger the FTC says broke antitrust law.
Last updated October 5, 2026
Reasons to avoid
Issues span:AntitrustConsumerLabor
Broke FTC order, paid record penalty
The FTC announced a record $4.5 million civil penalty against 7-Eleven for violating a 2018 antitrust consent order by buying a St. Petersburg, Florida fuel outlet without giving the agency advance notice. The company did not disclose the December 2018 purchase until March 2022, and the penalty is the largest ever collected in an FTC prior notice violation case.Sold vapes near schools after ban
The District of Columbia Attorney General secured a $1.2 million settlement after 16 7-Eleven stores within a quarter mile of a middle or high school sold more than 7,500 vapes and e-cigarettes following a 2022 ban on such sales. The settlement requires the company to end all sales and marketing of the devices near D.C. schools and to train staff and monitor stores for compliance.Denied meal breaks to 3,828 workers
7-Eleven settled a 2022 class action for $1.15 million covering 3,828 Washington state workers who were denied legally required meal breaks during understaffed shifts, with the company accused of willfully withholding wages in violation of state law.Anticompetitive deal forced 293-market divestiture
The FTC charged that 7-Eleven knowingly violated federal antitrust law when it completed its $21 billion acquisition of the Speedway chain in May 2021, forcing it to divest fuel outlets across 293 local markets in 20 states after the deal reduced competition to three or fewer competitors in those markets.Falsely marketed foam cups as recyclable
A federal lawsuit accused 7-Eleven of falsely marketing polystyrene foam cups, foam plates, and plastic freezer bags as recyclable, despite the products lacking the resin identification codes that recycling facilities rely on to sort plastic waste.
Ethical alternatives
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Common questions
- Is 7-Eleven ethical?
- 7-Eleven settled a 2022 class action for $1.15 million covering 3,828 Washington state workers who were denied legally required meal breaks during understaffed shifts. The FTC found that 7-Eleven knowingly violated federal antitrust law when it completed its $21 billion acquisition of the Speedway chain, reducing competition to three or fewer competitors in 293 local markets across 20 states.
- Why are people boycotting 7-Eleven?
- Wage theft, antitrust violations, and deceptive environmental marketing are the main reasons. A federal lawsuit accused 7-Eleven of falsely marketing polystyrene foam cups and plastic bags as recyclable despite the products lacking the resin codes that recycling facilities need to sort them. 7-Eleven's parent company is Tokyo-based Seven & i Holdings, meaning most profits leave American communities entirely.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to 7-Eleven?
- Locally owned corner stores and bodegas keep money in your neighborhood and are more likely to offer better wages than a franchise chain. Food co-ops through the National Co+op Grocers network offer everyday essentials with worker ownership and sustainable practices. Independent coffee shops are a better choice than a 7-Eleven stop for your morning drink.
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