Meatpacker JBS to Pay $1.1 Million to Settle New York Climate Suit

JBS SA, the world’s largest meatpacker, has agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle a lawsuit by the state of New York over allegations the company misled the public about reducing the impact of its operations on the environment.

As part of the settlement, announced Monday by New York Attorney General Letitia James, Brazil-based JBS agreed to revise language related to the company’s environmental marketing and produce annual reports to James’ office.

“New Yorkers deserve the truth when it comes to the environmental impact of the products they buy,” James said in a press release. “My office will always hold companies accountable when they mislead New Yorkers and harm our planet.”

In a statement, JBS said the settlement “does not reflect an admission of wrongdoing.” The company’s USA unit said it “remains driven to advance sustainable agriculture. We maintain a continued focus on investing in practical solutions that strengthen the resilience of the food system.”

James sued in February 2024, alleging the company had touted its efforts to achieve “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 despite having “no viable plan” to meet that commitment. A New York court tossed James’ suit earlier this year, but allowed the attorney general’s office 90 days to file an amended complaint.

The settlement comes less than five months after JBS began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The company’s long-awaited US listing proved highly divisive, drawing attention from lawmakers in Washington and fierce opposition from environmental groups.

The $1.1 million payment will be made to the Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ New York Soil Health and Resiliency Program for the purpose of “supporting climate-smart agriculture,” per the terms of the settlement.

James’ office said the funds will “help New York farmers adopt best practices to reduce emissions, increase resiliency, and enhance productivity.”