Swiss chocolate maker Lindt is facing a lawsuit in the United States accusing the company of misleading consumers by claiming it is committed to eliminating child labour from its cocoa
supply chain while continuing to source cocoa linked to the practice.
The case, filed in a federal court in Washington, DC, by the public interest law firm International Rights Advocates, alleges that Lindt has known for more than two decades that child labour is widely used in cocoa production in Ghana and Ivory Coast, yet continues to profit from it.
According to the complaint, Lindt markets itself as a company that respects human rights and is committed to ethical and responsible business practices. The lawsuit argues that these statements create a false impression for consumers purchasing its chocolate products.
"A reasonable consumer would not expect a company committed to respecting human rights to use widespread child labour in its cocoa supply chain," the complaint states.
The filing says Lindt sources all of its consumer-grade cocoa beans from Ghana and obtains cocoa butter from neighbouring Ivory Coast, two of the world's largest cocoa-producing nations where child labour has long been documented.
International Rights Advocates has previously brought similar legal actions against major chocolate manufacturers, including Mars, Mondelez and Nestlé, alleging they rely on cocoa produced with child labour.
Lindt rejected the allegations, saying it has strict measures in place to address child labour risks.
"Lindt & Sprüngli takes the issue of child labour very seriously and strongly condemns all forms of child labour," a company spokesperson said. "We have supplier protocols in place, and we systematically investigate suspected cases of child labour in our supply chain."
The Swiss company points to its 2030 Sustainability Plan, which outlines programmes supporting cocoa farmers in West Africa and efforts to reduce child labour risks. It also publishes a Modern Slavery Statement describing its strategy for monitoring suppliers and promoting responsible farming practices, including through Rainforest Alliance certification.
The lawsuit does not seek financial compensation. Instead, it asks the court to order Lindt to stop what it describes as misleading marketing directed at consumers in the District of Columbia.
Terry Collingsworth, executive director of International Rights Advocates, said his organisation's research found that major cocoa companies had adopted extensive policies on paper but had failed to implement them effectively, particularly in tackling child labour.
The law firm has also filed lawsuits against several other multinational companies, including Apple, Cargill and Starbucks, over alleged forced labour in their supply chains. Photo by angelcandy.baby, Wikimedia commons.
