Amazon sued in U.S. class action over seafood greenwashing claims

Consumers have filed a proposed class action in a Seattle federal court accusing Amazon.com of misrepresenting the environmental benefits of seafood sold on its platform. The complaint says labels such as “dolphin safe,” “responsibly sourced,” “sustainable,” and “MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood” mislead shoppers, while most fishing vessels are not publicly tracked and some disable transponders. Plaintiffs also allege that at least one‑fifth of imported wild‑caught seafood is not responsibly sourced.

The lawsuit, led by Madeleine Rogow of Los Angeles and Adam Sorkin of Chicago, targets dozens of tuna, salmon and other products under brands including Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist and Amazon’s own 365 by Whole Foods Market. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages and restitution under Washington consumer‑protection laws. Amazon, the United States’ second‑largest grocer with more than $150 billion in projected 2025 sales, did not comment. The parent companies of the branded seafood—Taiwan’s FCF, Thailand’s Thai Union Group and South Korea’s Dongwon Industries—are not named as defendants.