Starbucks
Starbucks Sued Over 'Ethical Sourcing' Claims, No Settlement Yet
A lawsuit accuses Starbucks of misleading buyers with 'ethically sourced' coffee claims despite alleged labor abuses at supplier farms. No settlement has been reached — this is currently just a filed complaint.
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Case overview
What this settlement is about
A newly filed lawsuit accuses Starbucks of misleading customers through its coffee marketing. According to the complaint, Starbucks promoted its beans as 'Committed to 100% Ethical Coffee Sourcing' and pointed to its C.A.F.E. Practices program (Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices) as proof of rigorous ethical standards.
Plaintiffs argue this messaging was deceptive, claiming that multiple sources have documented serious labor abuses — including forced labor, child labor, unsafe working conditions, and wage theft — at farms and suppliers that provide Starbucks coffee, even some farms certified under the C.A.F.E. program.
The suit further alleges that Starbucks failed to disclose the presence of certain volatile organic compounds and industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene, and methylene chloride, in some of its decaffeinated coffee products.
No settlement has been reached in this case — it remains an active lawsuit, and no compensation is currently available to consumers.
