Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Amazon Misrepresents Seafood Sustainability
Amazon is facing a proposed class action lawsuit in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging that it misrepresented the sustainability of seafood products sold on its platform. The complaint claims Amazon used terms like 'dolphin safe' and 'MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood,' which are said to be misleading or inaccurate. It specifically targets Amazon’s 365 by Whole Foods Market line as well as third-party brands such as Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, and StarKist. The lawsuit argues that Amazon's use of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification is deceptive due to what it calls a 'pay-for-play' system. It also claims that over 76% of fishing vessels operate outside public tracking systems, undermining sustainability claims based on traceability alone. The suit seeks reimbursement for affected consumers and an injunction against Amazon's alleged misleading marketing practices. The case alleges violations of Washington state consumer protection laws and the FTC’s Green Guides, which caution against unqualified environmental benefit claims.
Tickers: $AMZN
Topics: consumer protection environmental sustainability greenwashing seafood industry