The world’s largest beef producer has agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle allegations it misled the public about its environmental promises.
JBS USA, the American arm of the global meat company, advertised plans to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 — but had no actual strategy or science-backed path to do so, according to an investigation by the New York Attorney General’s Office.
The funds will support climate-smart agriculture programs in New York, helping local farmers adopt practices that cut emissions and boost resilience. JBS USA also agreed to reform its advertising, stop making unsupported environmental claims, and report annually to state regulators for the next three years.
The investigation found that JBS promoted slogans like “bacon, chicken wings, and steak with net zero emissions” despite failing to calculate its total emissions or develop a plan to cut them. In fact, JBS was expanding production — increasing its carbon footprint — even as it promoted its green image to consumers.
Beef production is one of the most greenhouse gas–intensive sectors in agriculture. In 2021 alone, JBS reported emissions totaling more than 71 million tons — more than the annual output of some countries.
The case follows warnings from the Better Business Bureau that JBS lacked evidence to back its net-zero claims.
The $1.1 million settlement is meant to support science-based climate solutions in agriculture. Final decisions on how and where the funds will be used are still in progress, with a focus on aiding farms that lost federal contracts to provide food to food banks.
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