StarKist Facing Class Action Over AHA ‘Heart-Check Mark’ on Canned Seafood Labels

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StarKist Co. is facing a proposed class action that claims many of its seafood product labels display the American Heart Association’s (AHA) “Heart-Check Mark” without disclosing that the symbol is a paid endorsement. According to the complaint, food manufacturers must pay an annual fee to use the AHA’s well-known icon on their products. This arrangement, the case explains, benefits both parties because it brings in revenue for the AHA and allows manufacturers to charge a premium price for their products based on representations that the foods are healthy. StarKist is no exception, the complaint alleges.

“StarKist takes advantage of health-conscious consumers who are looking for heart-healthy foods by manipulating them in to [sic] believing that StarKist’s products are more heart-healthy than products sold by other food manufacturers.”

The plaintiff claims he purchased the defendant’s products based on the AHA marking on their labels and wouldn’t have paid a premium price for the canned foods had he known the company bought the right to use the symbol. Further, the case argues that under federal and state law, the defendant was required to disclose on its labels that the AHA heart is a paid endorsement.