Nestle and Hershey Prevail in Slave Labor Suit

Last week, on March 29, a California federal judge dismissed claims that the Nestle and Hershey companies should put information about slave labor used in their manufacturing processes on their labels.  As is required for a motion to dismiss, the judge credited the claims against the chocolate manufacturers, noting that almost two million children work in cocoa-related industry in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.  Many of the children are sold into slavery by their parents.   The plaintiff, Elaine McCoy, argued that by failing to including labeling information to this effect, both companies had violated California’s unfair competition law and consumers legal remedies act, and engaged in false advertising.  The court, however, found that there were no legal claims and that, while child labor was unethical, it was beyond the province of the court to say what information should go on a label other than consumer safety information.

For more general information about slavery in the chocolate industry, click here.

These hotly contested cases, which have already been up to the U.S. Supreme Court once before, will likely be appealed.