Amazon faces lawsuit over ‘dolphin-safe’ and ‘sustainable’ seafood labeling claims

Amazon is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit from consumers who say the company misled shoppers about the environmental benefits of seafood sold through its online platform and stores.Filed in federal court in Seattle, the lawsuit accuses Amazon of “greenwashing”, using environmental language or imagery to make products appear more sustainable than the available evidence supports. The consumers claim that labels such as “dolphin safe,” “responsibly sourced,” “sustainable,” “wild caught” and “MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood” gave shoppers the impression that the products caused minimal harm to oceans and marine ecosystems.The allegations have not been proven in court. Amazon has not publicly responded to requests for comment about the case, according to a report by Reuters.What the lawsuit claimsThe plaintiffs argue that Amazon’s seafood marketing was broad enough to influence purchasing decisions but did not provide shoppers with enough information to verify the claims. They say consumers may have paid more for products or bought them specifically because they believed the seafood had been sourced in an environmentally responsible way.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of consum...