Counsel at the Table

A growing set of lawsuits are targeting misleading climate claims in the meat sector. Two major producers have now reached settlements.

Yesterday, a settlement was reached with Tyson Foods, Inc. In that case, the Environmental Working Group accused Tyson of misleading consumers by marketing beef products as “climate-smart” and claiming a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Under the agreement, Tyson must refrain for five years from making either new or repeated claims about achieving net-zero by 2050 or selling “climate-smart beef,” unless a mutually agreed-upon expert verifies that the claims are substantiated. Tyson denied any wrongdoing.

A second case was settled on November 3, 2025 involving JBS USA Food Company. The New York Attorney General’s office had alleged that JBS USA’s public statements promising to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 were misleading because the company lacked a viable plan and omitted material facts. Under the settlement, JBS USA agreed to pay $1.1 million for programs supporting climate-smart agriculture in New York, will frame its “Net Zero by 2040” target as a “goal” rather than a “pledge” or “commitment,” and will submit annual compliance reports for three years.

Separately, Mighty Earth has filed a lawsuit on October 28, 2025 in the District of Columbia against JBS USA alleging that its “Net-Zero by 2040” advertisement campaign was deceptive, as it omitted Scope 3 emissions and lacked a credible plan.

More broadly, food-industry greenwashing claims are increasing. A Danish court in March 2024 ruled that the pork-producer Danish Crown Foods made a misleading “climate-controlled pork” advertisement.