Amazon Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Seafood Sustainability Claims

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit from consumers who allege the e-commerce giant misrepresents the environmental sustainability of seafood sold on its platform, a practice commonly known as greenwashing. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Seattle federal court, claims the company deceives shoppers with unsubstantiated environmental marketing.

Details of the Allegations

The complaint argues that various labels on seafood products are materially false or misleading. These include phrases such as "dolphin safe," "responsibly sourced," "sustainable," and "MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood."

The plaintiffs contend that these claims are often unsubstantiated because many fishing vessels are not publicly tracked, and some operators may disable electronic transponders to obscure their locations. The lawsuit cites that at least one-fifth of imported wild-caught seafood is not sourced responsibly or sustainably.

"Amazon nevertheless markets the greenwashed seafood products using broad sustainability messaging without providing disclosures necessary to prevent consumer deception," the complaint states, as reported by Reuters. The plaintiffs, led by Madeleine Rogow and Adam Sorkin, assert they would not have purchased the products, or would have paid less, if the sourcing practices were accurately disclosed.

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Scope and Potential Impact

The lawsuit targets dozens of tuna, salmon, and other seafood products sold by Amazon, including major brands like Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, and StarKist, as well as Amazon's private-label 365 by Whole Foods Market.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with restitution, for alleged violations of Washington's consumer protection laws. The parent companies of the major seafood brands mentioned were not named as defendants in the suit.

Amazon is the second-largest grocer in the United States, with gross sales exceeding $150 billion in 2025, according to a statement by CEO Andy Jassy. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit, according to the original report.