Judge dismisses deceptive farmed salmon marketing lawsuit against Cooke

Cooke Aquaculture has prevailed in a lawsuit over allegedly misleading consumers regarding the sustainability of its True North farmed salmon products sold in the Washington, DC market.

On April 26, a Washington, DC superior court judge dismissed a complaint filed in 2020 against the seafood company by the nonprofit Animal Outlook, formerly known as Compassion Over Killing.

The Washington, DC-based nonprofit has previously attacked Cooke Aquaculture in Maine over animal welfare violations.

In its complaint, the nonprofit alleged Cooke's True North salmon marketing, in particular its Martha Stewart co-branded product line -- was misleading consumers by claiming the fish is "sustainably farmed," which the nonprofit said violated the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Act (CPPA).