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JBS USA Settles with New York Attorney General for $1.1 Million Over Misleading Climate Claims

By  |  November 6, 2025

New York Attorney General Letitia James has reached a $1.1 million settlement with JBS USA following allegations that the global meat processor misled consumers about its environmental commitments. According to a statement, the lawsuit accused JBS of falsely claiming it would achieve “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, despite lacking a credible plan to do so.

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    The 2024 lawsuit stemmed from an investigation by James’s office, which found that the company’s marketing portrayed ambitious climate goals without the necessary groundwork to achieve them. Per the statement, the probe revealed that JBS continued expanding meat production, a move likely to increase its carbon emissions rather than reduce them. At the time the company made its “Net Zero by 2040” pledge, JBS had not yet calculated its total emissions or developed a comprehensive plan for reduction.

    “New Yorkers deserve the truth when it comes to the environmental impact of the products they buy,” Attorney General James said. “JBS USA made sweeping promises about its parent company’s climate impacts despite the company having no real plan to back those promises up. My office will always hold companies accountable when they mislead New Yorkers and harm our planet.”

    The lawsuit alleged that JBS engaged in “greenwashing,” using sustainability-focused advertisements to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. The company’s statements included bold claims such as “Agriculture can be part of the climate solution. Bacon, chicken wings and steak with net zero emissions. It’s possible,” and promises to “cut our own emissions by 30% in 2030 and eliminate Amazon deforestation from our supply chain within five years.”

    According to Reuters, the attorney general emphasized that beef production generates more greenhouse gases than any other major food source, contributing significantly to global emissions. Data cited by the attorney general indicated that in 2021, JBS’s global operations produced over 71 million tons of greenhouse gases — exceeding the emissions of many countries.

    As part of the Oct. 30 settlement, JBS agreed to pay $1.1 million to fund climate-smart agriculture programs that assist New York farmers in adopting sustainable practices aimed at reducing emissions and increasing resilience. The company also committed to revising its environmental marketing and to submitting annual compliance reports to the attorney general’s office for three years.

    In a statement to MEAT+POULTRY, JBS USA spokesperson Nikki Richardson said the company “remains driven to advance sustainable agriculture,” adding, “This settlement does not reflect an admission of wrongdoing. As part of the resolution, we will contribute $1.1 million to support climate-smart farming practices. We maintain a continued focus on investing in practical solutions that strengthen the resilience of the food system.”

    Source: AG NY Gov