The National Consumers League (NCL) on Wednesday falsely claimed that Starbucks is committed to “ethical” sourcing, even though it still relies on farms that face accusations of human rights and labor abuses. filed a lawsuit against Starbucks for advertising.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C. Superior Court, seeks to stop Starbucks from allegedly misleading the public and seeks unspecified damages.
The lawsuit focuses on “Coffee and Farmer Equity (CAFE) practices,” a certification process that NCL claims Starbucks frequently relies on, and which Starbucks calls “transparent and , to promote profitable and sustainable coffee growing practices, while also protecting the well-being of coffee farmers and workers, their families, and communities.”
“In contrast to Starbucks' misrepresentations, the rubber-stamp 'certification' from these programs confirms that Starbucks coffee and tea are in fact ethically sourced or committed to the international human rights that Starbucks claims to respect. It does not certify compliance with any code or standard,” the lawsuit says.
NCL cites multiple reports on the farms and cooperatives from which Starbucks sources products, and NCL says that there are “serious documented human rights violations and labor violations, including child labor, forced labor, and rampant and severe sexual harassment.” He is being abused.'' And assault. ”
The lawsuit also notes the prevalence of advertising promoting Starbucks' ethical sourcing efforts, and claims that Starbucks recognizes the advertising appeal of “ethical” branding.
“Consumers are being misled by Starbucks' deceptive advertising, and Starbucks, with annual profits of more than $21 billion, is branding itself as an industry leader in corporate responsibility while concealing the true nature of its unreliable and inappropriate sourcing practices.” “They are profiting unfairly by flaunting their identity,” the lawsuit says. Say.
In a statement provided to Bloomberg Law, a Starbucks spokesperson said: “We are aware of the lawsuit and will defend against claims that Starbucks misrepresented its ethical sourcing commitments to customers. I intend to do so.''
“We take such allegations very seriously and actively engage with farms to ensure they comply with our standards,” the spokesperson added. .
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