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Environmental group accused Tyson of misleading consumers

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Tyson had claimed net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by

2050

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Company says it made no admission of wrongdoing

By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Tyson Foods ( TSN ) has

agreed to stop saying it will reach net-zero greenhouse gas

emissions by 2050 and marketing beef as climate friendly to

settle a lawsuit that accused the U.S. meat company of

misleading consumers with the claims, the nonprofit

Environmental Working Group said on Monday.

Companies have faced a string of cases over allegations of

"greenwashing," in which they try to present an environmentally

responsible image to the public.

Examples of misleading advertising cited in the

Environmental Working Group's lawsuit included a Tyson brand

called Brazen Beef.

The company had said this was the first beef product to

receive U.S. Department of Agriculture approval for a

"climate-friendly" claim by showing a 10% reduction in

greenhouse gas emissions during the production process, compared

to other beef.

The 2024 lawsuit alleged that Tyson gave consumers the

misleading impression that available Tyson beef products were

"climate-smart" and had not presented a rigorous plan for

reaching its net-zero goals.

Tyson will not repeat the claims or introduce new ones for five

years unless they are verified by a mutually agreed upon expert,

according to a settlement agreement provided by Environmental

Working Group.

"This settlement reinforces the principle that consumers

deserve honesty and accountability from the corporations shaping

our food system," said Caroline Leary, the group's general

counsel and chief operating officer.

"The decision to settle was made solely to avoid the expense

and distraction of ongoing litigation and does not represent any

admission of wrongdoing by Tyson Foods ( TSN )," a company spokesperson

said.

The agreement said Tyson denied the group's allegations and

also said the company invested more than $65 million to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions relating to its beef products.

This month, New York state Attorney General Letitia James said

meatpacker JBS USA agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle

allegations it misled the public with a pledge to achieve net

zero emissions by 2040.

In October, a French court said oil major TotalEnergies

misled consumers in a 2021 ad campaign claiming it

could become carbon neutral by 2050.