Amazon is facing a proposed class action lawsuit accusing the retail giant of misleading shoppers with environmental claims attached to seafood sold on its platform.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Seattle, alleges that Amazon used labels such as “dolphin safe,” “responsibly sourced,” “sustainable,” “wild caught,” and “MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood” in a way that led consumers to believe the products had little or no harmful impact on oceans and marine ecosystems.
According to the complaint, those claims are either unsupported or materially misleading. The plaintiffs argue that most commercial fishing vessels cannot be publicly tracked, while some intentionally switch off transponders that disclose their location, making it difficult to verify how seafood is sourced. They also cite estimates that at least one-fifth of imported wild-caught seafood is not harvested through responsible or sustainable practices.
“Amazon nevertheless markets the greenwashed seafood products using broad sustainability messaging without providing disclosures necessary to prevent consumer deception,” the complaint states.
The case targets dozens of seafood products, including tuna and salmon sold under brands such as Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist, and Amazon’s own 365 by Whole Foods Market label.
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The plaintiffs, led by Madeleine Rogow of Los Angeles and Adam Sorkin of Chicago, claim they either would not have purchased the seafood or would have paid less if Amazon had accurately represented its sustainability practices.
They are seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and restitution on behalf of consumers across the United States, alleging violations of Washington state’s consumer protection laws.
Amazon, headquartered in Seattle, has become the second-largest grocery retailer in the United States, generating more than $150 billion in gross sales in 2025, according to Chief Executive Andy Jassy during the company’s April 29 earnings call. The company has also faced a steady stream of lawsuits over products sold through its marketplace, including items offered by third-party sellers.
The lawsuit does not name the parent companies of Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, or StarKist as defendants. Those companies are Taiwan-based FCF, Thailand’s Thai Union Group, and South Korea’s Dongwon Industries, respectively.