Amazon labels some seafood products as ‘wild caught’ and ‘responsibly sourced’, but a lawsuit claims there’s something fishy
Amazon faces a class‑action lawsuit alleging it greenwashes seafood, misleading consumers about sustainability claims.Summary
On August 7, a class‑action suit was filed in Seattle federal court by consumers Madeleine Rogow and Adam Sorkin, accusing Amazon of greenwashing seafood sold on its platform. The complaint alleges that Amazon markets tuna, salmon and other products as “wild caught” and “responsibly sourced” while failing to disclose limitations in verifying how the fish are caught, and that it uses Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) labels that the plaintiffs say are part of a “pay‑for‑play” system. The suit claims Amazon violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act and seeks compensatory damages, restitution, and a court order preventing the company from marketing seafood as sustainable without full disclosure. Amazon‑owned Whole Foods 365 brand and other labels such as Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee and StarKist are named, and the plaintiffs argue that consumers paid a premium based on misleading sustainability claims that did not provide the full picture. MSC defended its certification programme, stating it is confident in the rigor and credibility of its global program.
(Source：Times of India)