Amazon Faces Class Action Over Seafood Sustainability Claims
Amazon is facing a lawsuit over its seafood sustainability claims. A proposed class action alleges that product descriptions on Amazon's platform, such as 'dolphin safe' and 'responsibly sourced', misled consumers about the environmental impact of certain seafood products. The lawsuit targets dozens of tuna, salmon, and other seafood products sold under brands including Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, and StarKist, as well as Amazon's own 365 by Whole Foods Market range.
The claimants argue that these representations were either unsubstantiated or materially false due to limited public tracking of fishing vessels. They point out cases where vessels allegedly disabled their electronic transponders to conceal their locations.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, alongside restitution for US consumers, over alleged breaches of Washington state consumer-protection laws. The claimants Madeleine Rogow and Adam Sorkin stated that they would not have purchased the products or paid less for them if Amazon had provided a more accurate account of their sustainability credentials.