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Victims of trafficking file US lawsuit against major chocolate brands over allegedly profiting from child & forced labour in Côte d'Ivoire
In February 2021, International Rights Advocates filed a class action lawsuit in the US against chocolate companies over alleged complicity in trafficking and forced labour.
The lawsuit was mainly filed under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) that enables victims to sue companies that participate in a venture that benefits from trafficking and forced labour.
The plaintiffs, 8 Malian people, were trafficked as children and forced to harvest cocoa in Côte d'Ivoire.
The defendant companies include Barry Callebaut, Cargill, Hershey, Mars, Mondelēz, Nestle and Olam.