People who bought farmed salmon at Hannaford stores in New York may be covered by a proposed class action alleging Hannaford and Ahold Delhaize USA falsely marketed the fish as “sustainable seafood.” No class has been certified and there is nothing to file yet.
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This article describes a class action complaint. The statements below are unproven allegations. Hannaford and Ahold Delhaize USA have not been found liable, there is no certified class, and nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
What Is This About?
A New York shopper filed a proposed class action on October 13, 2026 against Hannaford Bros. Co., LLC and its parent, Ahold Delhaize USA Services, LLC, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. The case is Boyle v. Hannaford Bros. Co., LLC, No. 1:26-cv-02108. The plaintiff says she bought Hannaford Grab & Go Farm-Raised Gulf of Maine Salmon and Hannaford Farm-Raised Coho Salmon Fillet many times in 2025 and 2026 at a Hannaford store in Glens Falls, New York.The complaint centers on in-store signs rather than package labels. It quotes signs reading “sustainable seafood,” “We sell only high-quality, traceable and sustainably harvested seafood,” and “Fresh, frozen or farm-raised, our seafood is SUSTAINABLY HARVESTED,” and a pledge, “Every fish has a tale. Ours you can trust,” backed by a double-money-back guarantee. It says photos of the signs were taken in Hannaford stores in Vermont, New York and Maine.
Free settlement alerts
Get notified when new class actions open to claims
Join thousands of readers who get the latest class action settlements you may qualify for — delivered straight to your inbox.
What Does the Lawsuit Allege?
The plaintiff alleges that Hannaford’s sustainability claims are misleading when applied to farmed salmon. The complaint alleges that Hannaford sells farmed salmon raised in Cooke Aquaculture net pens in Maine and Atlantic Canada, along with other products sourced from salmon farms in Chile and Northern Europe. It alleges that these operations cause nutrient pollution that can create oxygen-depleted dead zones, release waste and dead fish into the water, use chemicals and pesticides such as emamectin benzoate, azamethiphos and hydrogen peroxide, allow escapes that threaten endangered wild Atlantic salmon, suffer mass die-offs and overcrowding, and rely on feed from fisheries the complaint links to forced labor.The complaint alleges that Hannaford and its parent knew or should have known this, and that the sustainability marketing let them charge more for the salmon than shoppers would otherwise pay. These are allegations that no court has decided.
Which Products and Shoppers Are Covered?
The complaint covers all farmed salmon sold at Hannaford, including Maine-farmed Atlantic salmon from the fresh seafood counter, pre-portioned “Gulf of Maine” fillets, True North Seafood and C. Wirthy frozen salmon burgers, and smoked salmon sold under the True North Seafood, Ducktrap, Acme, Taste of Inspirations, Nature’s Promise and Echo Falls brands.The proposed class is limited to New York: all persons who bought any of those products in New York within the statute of limitations, up to the date notice is sent. Purchases made at Hannaford stores in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are not covered by the proposed class as filed.
What Does the Lawsuit Seek?
The complaint brings two claims under New York’s consumer protection law: deceptive practices under General Business Law § 349, which provides the greater of actual damages or $50 per violation, and false advertising under § 350, for which § 350-e provides the greater of actual damages or $500 per violation. It seeks class certification, actual, statutory and punitive damages, treble damages, attorneys’ fees and interest. The plaintiff is represented by Reese LLP, Jennings & Earley PLLC, FarmSTAND and the Center for Food Safety, an advocacy group that posted the complaint.What Has Hannaford Said?
Hannaford initially told the Portland Press Herald it does not comment on pending litigation and had not received the complaint. A day later, spokesperson Ericka Dodge Katz said the grocer “is committed to ensuring that our sustainable seafood policy is rigorous, credible and transparent,” and that it works with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to vet and audit its seafood and requires suppliers to hold recognized certifications such as Best Aquaculture Practices or Aquaculture Stewardship Council. No response from Cooke Aquaculture was found.What Happens Next?
The next step is for Hannaford and Ahold Delhaize USA to respond to the complaint. The plaintiff would later ask the court to certify the New York class. There is no settlement, claim form or deadline.Questions
What is the Hannaford salmon lawsuit about?
Boyle v. Hannaford Bros. Co., filed October 13, 2026 in federal court in New York, alleges that Hannaford’s in-store “sustainable seafood” and “sustainably harvested” signs mislead shoppers about farmed salmon, which the complaint says comes from net-pen farms that pollute and harm wild fish. Hannaford has not been found liable and says its seafood policy is rigorous.
Who is included in the Hannaford salmon class action?
The proposed class is everyone who bought Hannaford farmed salmon products in New York within the statute of limitations. The complaint does not propose a class for shoppers in other states, and no class has been certified.
Which salmon products are part of the Hannaford lawsuit?
The complaint covers all farmed salmon sold at Hannaford, including fresh-counter Atlantic salmon, “Gulf of Maine” fillets, True North Seafood and C. Wirthy frozen salmon burgers, and smoked salmon from brands including True North Seafood, Ducktrap, Acme, Nature’s Promise and Echo Falls.
Can I get money from the Hannaford salmon lawsuit?
Not now. The case was just filed, no class has been certified, and there is no settlement or claim form. Money would be available only if the plaintiff wins or the parties settle.
Sources
• Class action complaint, Boyle v. Hannaford Bros. Co., LLC and Ahold Delhaize USA Services, LLC, No. 1:26-cv-02108 (N.D.N.Y., filed October 13, 2026), (complaint PDF, posted by the Center for Food Safety, one of the plaintiff’s counsel)• Portland Press Herald (October 14, 2026, updated October 16), including Hannaford’s statement
