If you’ve bought a can of StarKist tuna in the last few years, you may have some cash coming your way. A recent class action lawsuit claimed StarKist didn’t fill its cans with as much tuna as the label promised. Now, StarKist has agreed to settle.
You don’t need proof of purchase. You can still file a claim and potentially get $25 in cash or $50 in StarKist product vouchers.
Why Did StarKist Get Sued?
The lawsuit, filed in 2013, accused StarKist of underfilling 5-ounce cans of tuna. Federal guidelines require canned foods to meet a certain “drained weight.” That’s the weight of the food after any liquid is removed.
The plaintiff, Patrick Hendricks, alleged that he bought StarKist tuna expecting a full can but consistently received less than promised. Independent lab testing found some cans had as little as 2.34 ounces of actual tuna.
That’s far below the 2.84-ounce minimum required by federal law.
What StarKist Said
StarKist denied the claims but agreed to a $12 million settlement to avoid the cost and hassle of going to trial.
The company said it stands by its products but wants to move on. That means consumers who purchased tuna between February 19, 2009, and October 31, 2014, can now file a claim.
Who Can File a Claim?
If you bought any of these StarKist products within that timeframe, you’re eligible:
- 5-ounce cans of Chunk Light Tuna in Water
- 5-ounce cans of Chunk Light Tuna in Oil
- 5-ounce cans of Solid White Tuna in Water
- 5-ounce cans of Solid White Tuna in Oil
No receipt necessary. You just have to submit a form confirming that you bought eligible products.
What Can You Get?
You can choose between two forms of compensation:
- $25 in cash (check mailed or direct deposit)
- $50 in StarKist product vouchers
You can only select one option. The court will decide if that amount changes depending on how many people file claims. More claimants may mean smaller individual payouts.
How to Submit Your Claim
The claim process is easy. Just go to the official StarKist settlement website, fill out the form, and select your compensation choice.
Here’s how to file:
- Visit www.tunalawsuit.com
- Choose between cash or vouchers
- Enter your contact info
- Confirm that you bought one of the listed products
The deadline to file was November 20, 2015. But keep reading—because this old suit is still relevant. Over the last few years, this case has triggered other lawsuits and discussions about food packaging.
What’s a Class Action Lawsuit?
A class action lawsuit is a way for many people with the same complaint to join forces. In this case, customers felt they were getting short-changed. Instead of suing individually, people joined under one initial plaintiff—Hendricks.
Courts decide if the case affects a broad group. If so, it moves forward as a class action. That lets thousands or even millions of consumers potentially get paid.
Why Didn’t You Hear About This Earlier?
If this lawsuit happened years ago, why is it still making headlines now?
Because food companies continue to face similar cases over packaging sizes and net weight claims. StarKist’s legal trouble set off a wave of scrutiny on food labeling.
Other high-profile companies have been hit with similar suits. Consumers are paying closer attention to what’s on the label vs. what’s in the package.
What Led to the Settlement?
Consumer outrage and lab tests played a big role. The lawsuit included evidence that StarKist’s 5-ounce cans often contained less than 3 ounces of tuna—despite federal rules requiring at least 2.84 ounces of drained tuna weight.
Independent testing backed up the plaintiff’s claims. This evidence helped push the settlement forward. StarKist agreed to pay $8 million in cash and $4 million in product vouchers to resolve the case.
What Do Legal Experts Say?
Lawyers say the StarKist case is a wake-up call. Food packaging is heavily regulated, but many consumers still feel misled due to unclear labels or over-sized containers with little product inside.
Labeling laws exist, but enforcement isn’t always strong. Some brands push the limits until someone calls them out. Lawsuits like this hold them accountable.
How Many People Filed Claims?
By the time the deadline passed, nearly 2.5 million people had filed claims. That’s why the final payout ended up being a little less than $25 per person. Payouts were adjusted based on how many claims came in versus the settlement fund size.
Some claimants reported receiving checks for $2.38 or product vouchers worth around $5.
Where’s My Money?
If you filed a claim and never got paid, you’re not alone. Many claimants say they forgot or moved before checks arrived. Others never received an email confirmation and weren’t sure if their claim went through.
If you think you were part of the case but didn’t get your share, there’s not much you can do now. The deadline passed years ago. But it’s a reminder to act quickly when these cases come up.
How Can You Catch These Opportunities?
Class action payouts pop up all the time. Most involve simple online forms and no proof of purchase. But you have to know where to look.
Here are a few places that share settlement news:
Check these sites weekly. Sign up for their newsletters. You’ll stay in the loop and never miss a payout window.
Other Major Food Lawsuits
StarKist isn’t alone. Here are other companies that faced legal heat for their food labeling:
- Kellogg’s: Sued over “natural” labeling on cereals with additives
- Subway: Faced claims that its footlong subs were shorter
- Red Bull: Paid out over energy-boosting claims
- Capri Sun: Targeted for misleading “all-natural” claims
These companies ended up paying millions or changing their labels. It shows that consumers pushing back can make an impact.
Can These Cases Really Change How Food is Sold?
Yes. After class action cases, many companies:
- Redesign packaging
- Increase servings or adjust product fills
- Update labels to match federal standards
That means fewer misleading labels on store shelves. It also forces better transparency in the food industry.
What’s the Takeaway for You?
Class action lawsuits like the StarKist case reveal one thing—if you pay attention, you can get paid back.
You don’t need receipts or a lawyer. Just an eye for news and willingness to fill out a short form.
Even small settlements can add up. If you caught five of these a year and averaged $10 per case, that’s $50 in easy money for a few minutes of effort.
What’s Next for StarKist?
StarKist still sells millions of cans per year. Since the case, the company has worked to meet drained weight rules and avoid future litigation.
They’re under watch, like many food brands. One lawsuit doesn’t stop a company, but it changes how they do business going forward.
Is It Worth It to File Small Claims?
If you’re thinking, “It’s just $10 or $20”—remember this:
That’s more than what many savings accounts earn in interest all year. And you’re getting paid for purchases you already made.
Don’t leave that money on the table.
Quick Recap
- StarKist settled a class action case over underfilled tuna cans
- No receipts were needed to file a claim
- Consumers could get up to $25 cash or $50 in vouchers
- Nearly 2.5 million people filed claims before the deadline
- The case sparked more scrutiny over misleading food labels
Always watch for new class actions. You might already be owed money—and not even know it.
