US consumers sue Bumble Bee, Sea Chicken and StarKist about "safe for dolphins" theses

(Reuters) – US consumers have sued Bumble Bee, Sea Chicken and StarKist, accusing the country's three major packaged tuna brands of misleading them by telling them that their tuna are caught only by fishing "safe for dolphins".

The clbad action lawsuits proposed on Monday indicated that the defendants use fishing techniques that kill or harm dolphins, and that they do not always use safer and more expensive cinnamon or other methods used by competitors. such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

Consumers have stated that this makes Dolphin-Safe labels false and misleading, in violation of the laws of several US states, including California, Florida, New Jersey and New York.

They also stated that StarKist had violated the federal racketeering law because of its alleged relationship with foreign fishing companies.

Concerns about dolphin safety "do not differentiate tuna consumers from Hindus who give a zero value to beef products, or vegans who give zero value to animal products, or vegetarians who give a zero value to animal products. meat, fish and poultry, "said the complaints.

StarKist said it was not discussing a dispute in progress, but that it would not buy tuna "caught in badociation with dolphins". He also condemned the "indiscriminate fishing methods" that trap dolphins at the same time as the predicted catches.

Bumble Bee did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Sea chicken has no immediate comment.

Proceedings in the San Francisco US District Court seek full refunds from consumers in the country who have purchased tuna in the last four years, or premiums paid for Dolphin Safe claims.

It was not clear right away how consumers intended to show that the claims were misleading. Their law firm did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

According to the complaints, the defendants have made safe claims for dolphins since 1990, when the federal law on consumer information for the protection of dolphins prohibited the false labeling of tuna products.

In December, the World Trade Organization declared that US laws governing dolphin-safe labels were in line with the rules of that group.

Bumble Bee is controlled by private equity firm Lion Capital, Chicken of the Sea by Thailand's Thai Union Group PCL and StarKist by South Korean company Dongwon Industries Co.

The cases brought before the US District Court, Northern District of California, are Gardner et al. StarKist Co, No. 19-02561; Duggan et al. Tri-Union Seafoods LLC, No. 19-02562; and Duggan et al. Bumble Bee Foods LLC, No. 19-02564.