Chocolate giant Lindt has been sued in a US court over its alleged child labour use in both Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

The claims come as the the Swiss-based chocolate maker touts its commitment to responsibly sourcing ingredients.

According to Reuters a complaint moved to the Washington DC Federal Court on July 21, 2026, Lindt falsely assured consumers that it was trying to eliminate child labour from its supply chain and is committed to children’s rights and human rights generally.

The report said Lindt has known for more than 20 years that its cocoa is produced with child labour and profits from the practice.

“A reasonable consumer would not expect a company ‘committed to respecting human rights’ and ‘conducting business in an ethical, legal and environmentally and socially responsible manner’ to use widespread child labour in its cocoa supply chain,” the complaint said.

According to the complaint, Lindt sources 100 per cent of its consumer-grade cocoa beans from Ghana, and sources its cocoa butter from the Ivory Coast.

The lawsuit was filed by public interest law firm International Rights Advocated, which has also pursued cases against accusing Mars, Mondelezz, and Nestle of using child labour.

A Lindt spokesperson issued a statement on July 23, 2026, saying Lindt & Sprungli takes the issue of child labour very seriously.

“…and strongly condemns all forms of child labour and denies the allegations in the complaint,” they said.

“We have supplier protocols in place, and we systematically investigate suspected cases of child labour in our supply chain.”

The claims come despite a 2030 Sustainability Plan, available on the website, that discusses Lindt’s efforts to support cocoa farmers in West Africa and reduce risks from child labour. There is also a Modern Slavery Statement publishes, that discusses the company’s strategy to reduce the risks, including honouring the Rainforest Alliance certification for farming practices.

The lawsuit seeks to end Lindt’s alleged unlawful conduct, but does not seek damages.

International Rights Advocated executive director Terry Collingsworth told Reuters in an email that his research had confirmed Lindt, like the other major cocoa companies, has great paper policies but virtually no implementation, particularly on the child labour issue.