Lawsuit claims that Starbucks knowingly sources tea and coffee from suppliers with ‘documented, severe human rights and labor abuses’ while claiming in their marketing and on their packaging to be 100 percent ethical.Â
Global coffee giant Starbucks is facing a legal battle over accusations of passing off unethically sourced coffee from Kenya, Brazil, and Guatemala as ethically produced.
The lawsuit by consumer advocacy group, the National Consumers League, contends that Starbucks uses deceptive marketing strategies, promoting the idea that the coffee it sells is cultivated and sourced in an ethically responsible manner.
However, the legal action sheds light on the alleged exploitation of workers on coffee farms in Kenya, Brazil, and Guatemala.
Sally Greenberg, the CEO of the National Consumers League, emphasized that investigative reports and government officials have uncovered severe abuses on farms and cooperatives that supply coffee and tea to Starbucks over the past decade.
“Despite numerous opportunities, Starbucks has failed to rectify the misleading marketing practices,” Greenberg stated.
The lawsuit wants Starbucks to revise its marketing approach to reflect the reported child and forced labor issues on the farms where it sources its coffee.
Starbucks response
Responding to the allegations, Starbucks told NBC, an American news outlet, that it collaborates with all its farms to ensure adherence to the company’s standards.
The coffee company emphasized that products from countries like Kenya undergo regular verification, underscoring its commitment to ensuring partners meet the expectations outlined in the Global Human Rights Statement.
“We are aware of the lawsuit and plan to aggressively defend against the claims that Starbucks misrepresented its ethical sourcing commitments to customers,” said a company spokesperson.
This legal action adds to a series of lawsuits Starbucks has faced regarding its product sourcing practices. In 2020, the company was sued for allegedly receiving coffee picked by young children working on farms.
The children endure unfavorable conditions, spending up to eight hours a day on the farm, six days a week. Starbucks responded by launching an investigation into the farms accused of child labor abuse.
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