In brief
A watchdog group is petitioning the U.S. government to halt imports of Brazilian coffee linked to forced labor, targeting big brands like Starbucks and Nestle.
Two legal actions have surfaced against major U.S. coffee companies, alleging that some of their beans are linked to forced labor conditions in Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer. On April 24, 2025, the nonprofit Coffee Watch called on the Trump administration to ban imports from companies like Starbucks, Nestle, Dunkin’, and others, claiming their coffee may have ties to human trafficking and slavery. Etelle Higonnet, founder of Coffee Watch, emphasized, "This isn’t about a few bad actors. We’re exposing a system that traps millions in poverty and thousands in slavery." This petition follows a lawsuit by International Rights Advocates against Starbucks, representing eight Brazilians who experienced trafficking and were forced to work under horrific conditions for a major supplier called Cooxupé. Human rights lawyer Terry Collingsworth pointed out the seriousness of the issue, stressing Starbucks' accountability in a system rife with forced labor in Brazil.
