Bumble Bee Foods has entered an agreement motion to settle a federal class action lawsuit claiming the company misrepresented its canned salmon product as smoked and wild-caught.
Per the document, submitted on 1 February, the company denied it violated any federal regulations regarding food packaging.
“Nevertheless, Bumble Bee noted it ‘has reviewed and updated the information on its website,’ and that it ‘intends to review its labels to provide additional clarity that the product is smoke-flavored,’” the motion stated.
The company has also agreed to repackage its salmon fillets to remove any indication of the product's color. In addition, Bumble Bee has agreed to pay “an incentive award” to the plaintiffs and cover their legal fees in an amount between USD 30,000 (EUR 24,296) and 85,000 (68,826).
The new labeling is expected to roll out in the second quarter of this year.
Miguel Rodriguez filed the case on 6 December, 2017, claiming the original packaging suggested the Bumble Bee salmon was a higher quality wild-caught variety instead of the Chilean farm-raised fish it contained.
Because of that, Rodriguez felt he received a product worth less than what he paid.
Also, in his suit, he claimed wild salmon feed off krill to give it the distinctive reddish or pink color. Farmed salmon is typically duller in color, and that requires companies to add artificial coloring.
