- On 8 May 2026, NGO International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) filed a lawsuit against Lindt’s US subsidiaries under Washington D.C. consumer protection law.
- The lawsuit alleges that Lindt misled consumers by claiming to implement a “responsible sourcing approach” despite child labour, trafficking and other abuses in its Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana supply chains.
- IRAdvocates is seeking an injunction to prevent Lindt from selling products allegedly produced under these conditions. It is not seeking monetary damages.
- IRAdvocates argues that Lindt is or should have been aware of child labour risks in West African cocoa production, citing studies including by US DOL and ILO dating back to 2002. A US DOL-funded study from 2020 estimated that 1.56 million children worked in cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana (2018–2019) and found severe levels of hazardous work. The highest types of reported hazardous work included:
- Use of sharp tools: 1.2 million children
- Carrying heavy loads: 990,000 children
- Exposure to agrochemicals: 840,000 children.
- IRAdvocates carried out onsite visits in 2023 and 2025 as part of an in-person investigation. The investigation team was supported by a whistleblower who formerly worked with Lindt suppliers in the region. The investigation allegedly found:
- Limited or ineffective child labour monitoring and remediation
- Fabrication of child remediation lists to meet internal quotas
- Systematic underpayment of farmers through rigged scales that understated cocoa deliveries by 7–10 kg per bag.
Lindt’s position
- Lindt states that it sources responsibly and is committed to continuous improvement through its Human Rights Policy, Supplier Code of Conduct and product packaging.
- It reportedly addresses child labour risks by sourcing through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, which operates Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS), including in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Lindt also states that it actively oversees the programme and its implementation by suppliers.
- For farms not covered by CLMRS, Lindt reportedly relies on Rainforest Alliance certification.