{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"105305","rtpr_id":"nBw1qpVzWa","ticker":"AMZN","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["AMZN"],"title":"Hagens Berman: Consumers Sue Amazon Alleging Phony Seafood Sustainability and Greenwashing","author":"Business Wire","published_at":"2026-07-31T15:59:00.118Z","article_body":"Hagens Berman: Consumers Sue Amazon Alleging Phony Seafood Sustainability and\nGreenwashing\n\nAttorneys say the country’s second largest grocer uses green marketing to\nmask allegedly illegal, unregulated fishing behind seafood products including\n365 by Whole Foods Market, Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea and more\n\nA class-action lawsuit accuses Amazon.com Inc. of knowingly misleading the\npublic about the environmental and ecological sustainability of its seafood\nproducts\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbsslaw.com%2Fcases%2Famazon-msc-certified-fish-products&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=lawsuit+accuses+Amazon.com+Inc.+of+knowingly+misleading+the+public+about+the+environmental+and+ecological+sustainability+of+its+seafood+products&index=1&md5=83a657a80111ce46093a19410082232e)\n, according to Hagens Berman attorneys.\n\nThe complaint states that affected brands include 365 by Whole Foods Market,\nBumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist and more.\n\nThe lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of\nWashington on July 31, 2026, and accuses Amazon of marketing numerous seafood\nproducts sold on its platform using environmental and ecological\nrepresentations that products are “dolphin safe,” “sustainable,”\n“responsibly sourced,” “traceable,” and “MSC [Marine Stewardship\nCouncil] Certified Sustainable Seafood,” a pay-for-play certification model.\n\nTaken together, Amazon gives consumers the net impression that its seafood\nproducts cause minimal harm to our oceans, to marine life and the environment\n– an impression that, the lawsuit claims, is at best unsubstantiated and, at\nworst, materially false. Amazon allegedly markets to and knowingly deceives\nconsumers who are trying to make an informed and responsible choice to put\ntheir money towards fisheries and manufacturers that do right by our planet.\n\nIf you purchased seafood via Amazon, find out more about the lawsuit and your\nconsumer rights.\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbsslaw.com%2Fcases%2Famazon-msc-certified-fish-products&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=If+you+purchased+seafood+via+Amazon%2C+find+out+more+about+the+lawsuit+and+your+consumer+rights.&index=2&md5=5f3c48aad71852bc4a51f3b8b424eba6)\n\n“The evidence shows that Amazon’s marketing of its seafood products is\nconsumer deception, hook, line and sinker, and preys upon the hopes of\nmillions of consumers that their dollars support sustainability,” said Steve\nBerman, managing partner and co-founder of Hagens Berman. “Our complaint\nalso alleges that Amazon’s use of MSC’s certification is a sham,\nessentially involving bribery between fisheries and auditors to stamp their\ncans with a meaningless label. We believe Amazon uses the same false\ninformation to mislead its customers.”\n\nSelling Faux Sustainability\n\nAccording to the lawsuit, Amazon has invested significant resources to\ncourting environmentally and ecologically conscious shoppers and its marketing\nstates “sustainability isn’t a separate initiative—it’s core to how\nAmazon operates.”\n\nThe lawsuit states that Amazon's alleged conduct also runs afoul of the\nFederal Trade Commission's Green Guides, which warn marketers against making\nunqualified environmental benefit claims and emphasize that environmental\ncertifications and seals may communicate broad environmental benefits to\nconsumers.\n\n“Amazon's own environmental marketing policies likewise require\nenvironmental claims to be truthful, substantiated, and not misleading,” the\nlawsuit states, highlighting the retailer’s hypocrisy. “Amazon\nnevertheless markets the Greenwashed Seafood Products using broad\nsustainability messaging without providing disclosures necessary to prevent\nconsumer deception.”\n\n“Amazon’s behavior doesn’t even comport with the standards to which it\nholds third parties selling on its platform,” Berman said.\n\n“The consequences of Amazon’s conduct are substantial,” according to the\nlawsuit. “…Amazon deprives consumers of the ability to make informed\npurchasing decisions and causes them to pay a premium for products they\notherwise would not have purchased, or for which they would have paid less.”\n\nThe lawsuit spotlights the ecological impact of Amazon’s alleged behavior,\nstating, “Amazon never discloses that the Greenwashed Seafood Products are\nMSC certified but that the MSC certifies fisheries that do not routinely\npractice sustainable fishing methods,” adding that they engage in\nsubstantial bycatch, destructive gear use, dredging and bottom trawl fishing\nand labor abuses.\n\nMurky Waters\n\nThe lawsuit states that Amazon fails to disclose certain truths in the fishing\nindustry that obscure traceability and environmental impact. The lawsuit\ndescribes that most fishing vessels — upwards of 76% — are not publicly\ntracked and frequently disable transponders, obscuring potential involvement\nin illegal or unregulated fishing.\n\nAmazon also does not disclose that traceability is not synonymous with\nsustainability, the lawsuit states, adding that a sizable portion of imported\nwild-caught seafood is harvested using legally dubious fishing methods and\nthus, neither responsibly nor sustainably sourced.\n\nThe complaint states that these factors compounded with Amazon’s use of the\nMSC certification amount to violations of Washington state consumer protection\nlaws that dictate misrepresentation and concealment. The lawsuit seeks\nrepayment for consumers who would not have purchased the affected seafood had\nthey known the alleged truth of its lack of sustainability. Hagens Berman also\nseeks injunctive relief barring Amazon from continuing the behavior in\nquestion.\n\nFind out more about the lawsuit against Amazon related to its sale of seafood\nthat fails to meet touted environmental sustainability practices.\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbsslaw.com%2Fcases%2Famazon-msc-certified-fish-products&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=Find+out+more+about+the+lawsuit+against+Amazon+related+to+its+sale+of+seafood+that+fails+to+meet+touted+environmental+sustainability+practices.&index=3&md5=601ebb8ebda8a2664a4f8b040b658ce4)\n\nAbout Hagens Berman\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbsslaw.com%2F&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=About+Hagens+Berman&index=4&md5=5053c072190558022fbbfe077264d123)\n\nHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm with\na tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate\nnegligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm's determination has\nearned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of \"Most Feared\nPlaintiff's Firm,\" MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the\nlaw firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for\nupdates and news at @ClassActionLaw\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FClassActionLaw&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=%40ClassActionLaw&index=5&md5=2ef53b94a604e05e1d8b2e493f96e80f)\n.\n\nAttorney advertising.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260730072158/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260730072158/en/)\n\nMedia Contact\nAsh Klann\npr@hbsslaw.com (mailto:pr@hbsslaw.com) \n206-268-9363\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nBw1qpVzWa","title":"Hagens Berman: Consumers Sue Amazon Alleging Phony Seafood Sustainability and Greenwashing","author":"Business Wire","ticker":"AMZN","created":"2026-07-31T15:59:00.118Z","tickers":["AMZN"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"Hagens Berman: Consumers Sue Amazon Alleging Phony Seafood Sustainability and\nGreenwashing\n\nAttorneys say the country’s second largest grocer uses green marketing to\nmask allegedly illegal, unregulated fishing behind seafood products including\n365 by Whole Foods Market, Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea and more\n\nA class-action lawsuit accuses Amazon.com Inc. of knowingly misleading the\npublic about the environmental and ecological sustainability of its seafood\nproducts\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbsslaw.com%2Fcases%2Famazon-msc-certified-fish-products&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=lawsuit+accuses+Amazon.com+Inc.+of+knowingly+misleading+the+public+about+the+environmental+and+ecological+sustainability+of+its+seafood+products&index=1&md5=83a657a80111ce46093a19410082232e)\n, according to Hagens Berman attorneys.\n\nThe complaint states that affected brands include 365 by Whole Foods Market,\nBumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist and more.\n\nThe lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of\nWashington on July 31, 2026, and accuses Amazon of marketing numerous seafood\nproducts sold on its platform using environmental and ecological\nrepresentations that products are “dolphin safe,” “sustainable,”\n“responsibly sourced,” “traceable,” and “MSC [Marine Stewardship\nCouncil] Certified Sustainable Seafood,” a pay-for-play certification model.\n\nTaken together, Amazon gives consumers the net impression that its seafood\nproducts cause minimal harm to our oceans, to marine life and the environment\n– an impression that, the lawsuit claims, is at best unsubstantiated and, at\nworst, materially false. Amazon allegedly markets to and knowingly deceives\nconsumers who are trying to make an informed and responsible choice to put\ntheir money towards fisheries and manufacturers that do right by our planet.\n\nIf you purchased seafood via Amazon, find out more about the lawsuit and your\nconsumer rights.\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbsslaw.com%2Fcases%2Famazon-msc-certified-fish-products&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=If+you+purchased+seafood+via+Amazon%2C+find+out+more+about+the+lawsuit+and+your+consumer+rights.&index=2&md5=5f3c48aad71852bc4a51f3b8b424eba6)\n\n“The evidence shows that Amazon’s marketing of its seafood products is\nconsumer deception, hook, line and sinker, and preys upon the hopes of\nmillions of consumers that their dollars support sustainability,” said Steve\nBerman, managing partner and co-founder of Hagens Berman. “Our complaint\nalso alleges that Amazon’s use of MSC’s certification is a sham,\nessentially involving bribery between fisheries and auditors to stamp their\ncans with a meaningless label. We believe Amazon uses the same false\ninformation to mislead its customers.”\n\nSelling Faux Sustainability\n\nAccording to the lawsuit, Amazon has invested significant resources to\ncourting environmentally and ecologically conscious shoppers and its marketing\nstates “sustainability isn’t a separate initiative—it’s core to how\nAmazon operates.”\n\nThe lawsuit states that Amazon's alleged conduct also runs afoul of the\nFederal Trade Commission's Green Guides, which warn marketers against making\nunqualified environmental benefit claims and emphasize that environmental\ncertifications and seals may communicate broad environmental benefits to\nconsumers.\n\n“Amazon's own environmental marketing policies likewise require\nenvironmental claims to be truthful, substantiated, and not misleading,” the\nlawsuit states, highlighting the retailer’s hypocrisy. “Amazon\nnevertheless markets the Greenwashed Seafood Products using broad\nsustainability messaging without providing disclosures necessary to prevent\nconsumer deception.”\n\n“Amazon’s behavior doesn’t even comport with the standards to which it\nholds third parties selling on its platform,” Berman said.\n\n“The consequences of Amazon’s conduct are substantial,” according to the\nlawsuit. “…Amazon deprives consumers of the ability to make informed\npurchasing decisions and causes them to pay a premium for products they\notherwise would not have purchased, or for which they would have paid less.”\n\nThe lawsuit spotlights the ecological impact of Amazon’s alleged behavior,\nstating, “Amazon never discloses that the Greenwashed Seafood Products are\nMSC certified but that the MSC certifies fisheries that do not routinely\npractice sustainable fishing methods,” adding that they engage in\nsubstantial bycatch, destructive gear use, dredging and bottom trawl fishing\nand labor abuses.\n\nMurky Waters\n\nThe lawsuit states that Amazon fails to disclose certain truths in the fishing\nindustry that obscure traceability and environmental impact. The lawsuit\ndescribes that most fishing vessels — upwards of 76% — are not publicly\ntracked and frequently disable transponders, obscuring potential involvement\nin illegal or unregulated fishing.\n\nAmazon also does not disclose that traceability is not synonymous with\nsustainability, the lawsuit states, adding that a sizable portion of imported\nwild-caught seafood is harvested using legally dubious fishing methods and\nthus, neither responsibly nor sustainably sourced.\n\nThe complaint states that these factors compounded with Amazon’s use of the\nMSC certification amount to violations of Washington state consumer protection\nlaws that dictate misrepresentation and concealment. The lawsuit seeks\nrepayment for consumers who would not have purchased the affected seafood had\nthey known the alleged truth of its lack of sustainability. Hagens Berman also\nseeks injunctive relief barring Amazon from continuing the behavior in\nquestion.\n\nFind out more about the lawsuit against Amazon related to its sale of seafood\nthat fails to meet touted environmental sustainability practices.\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbsslaw.com%2Fcases%2Famazon-msc-certified-fish-products&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=Find+out+more+about+the+lawsuit+against+Amazon+related+to+its+sale+of+seafood+that+fails+to+meet+touted+environmental+sustainability+practices.&index=3&md5=601ebb8ebda8a2664a4f8b040b658ce4)\n\nAbout Hagens Berman\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbsslaw.com%2F&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=About+Hagens+Berman&index=4&md5=5053c072190558022fbbfe077264d123)\n\nHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm with\na tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate\nnegligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm's determination has\nearned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of \"Most Feared\nPlaintiff's Firm,\" MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the\nlaw firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for\nupdates and news at @ClassActionLaw\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FClassActionLaw&esheet=54580351&newsitemid=20260730072158&lan=en-US&anchor=%40ClassActionLaw&index=5&md5=2ef53b94a604e05e1d8b2e493f96e80f)\n.\n\nAttorney advertising.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260730072158/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260730072158/en/)\n\nMedia Contact\nAsh Klann\npr@hbsslaw.com (mailto:pr@hbsslaw.com) \n206-268-9363\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-07-31T15:59:00.181918105Z","server_sent_at_ms":1785513540181},"received_at":"2026-07-31T15:59:00.233Z","source_url":"https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260730072158/en/"},"analysis":{"id":"94315","press_release_id":"105305","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Internet & Direct Marketing Retail","sector":"Consumer Discretionary"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"legal_litigation","narrative":"Hagens Berman filed a class-action lawsuit against Amazon alleging the company misleads consumers about the environmental sustainability of its seafood products.\n\nThe complaint targets brands including 365 by Whole Foods Market, Bumble Bee, and Chicken of the Sea, claiming Amazon uses 'greenwashing' tactics like 'dolphin safe' and 'MSC Certified' labels.\n\nThis press release is a solicitation from a plaintiff law firm seeking consumers who purchased seafood via Amazon to contact them regarding the class action.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Plaintiff-firm solicitation -- suppress."},"keyFigures":null,"quotedText":"The evidence shows that Amazon’s marketing of its seafood products is consumer deception, hook, line and sinker, and preys upon the hopes of millions of consumers that their dollars support sustainability","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Steve Berman","role":"managing partner and co-founder"}],"products":["365 by Whole Foods Market","Bumble Bee","Chicken of the Sea","StarKist"],"companies":[{"name":"Amazon.com Inc.","ticker":"AMZN","relationship":"defendant"},{"name":"Hagens Berman","relationship":"plaintiff law firm"},{"name":"365 by Whole Foods Market","relationship":"mentioned brand"},{"name":"Bumble Bee","relationship":"mentioned brand"},{"name":"Chicken of the Sea","relationship":"mentioned brand"},{"name":"StarKist","relationship":"mentioned brand"},{"name":"Marine Stewardship Council","relationship":"mentioned organization"},{"name":"Federal Trade Commission","relationship":"mentioned organization"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Plaintiff law-firm consumer solicitation issued by Hagens Berman. No new disclosure from the issuer; no certified class, no settlement. Routine class-action announcement soliciting consumers to contact the firm."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"AMZN"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":10,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"mega-cap","eventGravity":"law-firm-solicitation","issuerAuthored":false}},"event_type":"legal_litigation","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Hagens Berman filed a class-action lawsuit against Amazon alleging the company misleads consumers about the environmental sustainability of its seafood products.\n\nThe complaint targets brands including 365 by Whole Foods Market, Bumble Bee, and Chicken of the Sea, claiming Amazon uses 'greenwashing' tactics like 'dolphin safe' and 'MSC Certified' labels.\n\nThis press release is a solicitation from a plaintiff law firm seeking consumers who purchased seafood via Amazon to contact them regarding the class action.","key_figures":null,"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Steve Berman","role":"managing partner and co-founder"}],"products":["365 by Whole Foods Market","Bumble Bee","Chicken of the Sea","StarKist"],"companies":[{"name":"Amazon.com Inc.","ticker":"AMZN","relationship":"defendant"},{"name":"Hagens Berman","relationship":"plaintiff law firm"},{"name":"365 by Whole Foods Market","relationship":"mentioned brand"},{"name":"Bumble Bee","relationship":"mentioned brand"},{"name":"Chicken of the Sea","relationship":"mentioned brand"},{"name":"StarKist","relationship":"mentioned brand"},{"name":"Marine Stewardship Council","relationship":"mentioned organization"},{"name":"Federal Trade Commission","relationship":"mentioned organization"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-07-31T16:11:41.185Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":10,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"mega-cap","eventGravity":"law-firm-solicitation","issuerAuthored":false}},"durationMs":115053,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}