New York filed a lawsuit in state court Wednesday alleging JBS USA, one of the world’s biggest meat producers, is making false claims about its climate-friendly behavior.
According to the lawsuit, JBS USA, a subsidiary of the Brazil-based JBS, has falsely claimed in American advertisements that it will achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and has pledged to reduce deforestation of the Amazon associated with its supply chain, despite having no concrete plans to do so.
the lawsuit
“When companies falsely advertise their commitment to sustainability, they are misleading consumers and endangering our planet,” New York Attorney General Tish James said in a statement. “JBS USA’s greenwashing exploits the pocketbooks of everyday Americans and the promise of a healthy planet for future generations.”
Food companies are increasingly making sustainability and climate claims on their product packaging in a bid to woo a class of consumers who are willing to pay more for food produced in environmentally friendly ways. James’ lawsuit signals a growing interest among regulators to crack down on companies that attempt to take advantage of climate-conscious consumers. Late last year, James also filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against PepsiCo, alleging it misled consumers about the harms of plastic and its efforts to reduce single-use packaging.
increasingly making sustainability and climate claims
alleging it misled consumers about the harms of plastic
