“100% ethical” sourcing commitment by Starbucks focus of new lawsuit
NBC reports that a consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit this week challenging global coffee chain Starbucks’ claims of ethical sourcing and suing them for false advertising. The suit alleges that the coffee and tea that Starbucks sources come from farms with known human rights and labor abuses. At the same time, Starbucks’ marketing touts its commitment to 100% ethical sourcing, thereby misleading the public.
Watchdog consumer group cries “foul”
According to reports, severe human rights and labor abuses were found on specific coffee and tea farms in Guatemala, Kenya and Brazil. The suit alleges that despite these findings, Starbucks has continued to purchase from these tainted suppliers, flying in the face of their much-touted claim of a commitment to “100% ethical” sourcing.
Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League, the legal advocacy group bringing the case said:
“On every bag of coffee and box of K-cups that Starbucks sells, Starbucks is heralding its commitment to 100% ethical sourcing, but it’s pretty clear that there are significant human rights and labor abuses across Starbucks’ supply chain.”