Legal Allegations and Responses
A labor rights group, International Rights Advocates, sued Starbucks, alleging the company sourced coffee from Brazilian cooperative Cooxupe, where farms were cited for trafficking and forced labor violations. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight Brazilian workers.
Starbucks denies the allegations, claiming it only purchases from a fraction of Cooxupe's members and adheres to ethical sourcing practices, including third-party audits to ensure labor and environmental standards are met.
Cooxupe's Stance and Consumer Impact
Cooxupe stated it is not part of the lawsuit and lacks access to it, distancing itself from the allegations.
Terry Collingsworth, representing the plaintiffs, criticized Starbucks for profiting from human trafficking, urging accountability, while the company emphasizes its commitment to protecting workers' rights.