USA: OECD complaint filed against Ahold Delhaize by NGO Migrant Justice, alleging "grave human rights violations" in dairy supply chain; incl. cos. responses & non-response
In April 2025, US-based migrant rights organisation, Migrant Justice, filed a complaint to the Dutch National Contact Point of the OECD Guidelines alleging “grave human rights violations” in Ahold Delhaize’s supply chain and a “failure to align with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises”.
This will be a long process. But our hope is that this complaint won’t be necessary, and that Ahold will avoid the expense and the reputational risk of an international human rights complaint by sitting down with workers in good faith.Will Lambek, Migrant Justice
The complaint says Hannaford (part of Ahold Delhaize)’s milk is processed by HP Hood, sourced from cooperatives including Dairy Farmers of America and Agri-Mark, who in turn source from local dairy farms. The complaint says migrants on farms in this supply chain have been subjected to labour rights violations, including poor living conditions, violations of the right to privacy, unreasonable working hours, safety violations, discrimination and other abuses.
It argues Ahold Delhaize is “directly linked and contributes” to these adverse impacts, and that it has leverage over Hannaford and therefore responsibility over its supply chain practices.
The complaint also alleges Ahold Delhaize has failed to meet its due diligence obligations and recommends Ahold Delhaize join the Milk with Dignity Program (more can be read about Migrant Justice’s campaign to bring Hannaford into the Milk with Dignity programme here and below). Regarding concerns with Hannaford’s due diligence, the complaint says Hannaford’s complaint mechanism, partly managed by the company Navex, falls short of due diligence obligations, including due to the fact it lacks accessibility for workers.
Portland Press Herald reported that Hannaford is reviewing its dairy supply chain for human rights violations following concerns raised by activists. The review will be “overseen” by a third-party auditor, Enact. The review began days before Migrant Justice filed its complaint. The company said it “appreciates” Migrant Justice raising the issues, so that it can “learn what may or may not be happening”.
In May 2025, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Ahold Delhaize, HP Hood, Dairy Farmers of America, Agri-Mark and Navex to respond to the reporting. It also invited Ahold Delhaize to additionally disclose steps it has taken to investigate and remedy workers for the abuses reported; and to disclose any human rights due diligence it undertakes before its subsidiaries enter into contracts with suppliers and when monitoring working conditions at suppliers. Responses from Agri-Mark, Ahold Delhaize, HP Hood and Navex can be read in full below. Dairy Farmers of America did not respond.