(Ecofin Agency) - In the US, a class action suit has been lodged against the Nestlé, Hershey’s and Mars groups. These world leaders in chocolate products are under attack for their presumed part in the exploitation of children in cocoa farms, Swiss periodical Bilan reports.

Explaining the motivations of this lawsuit, the Hagens Bemen firm which represents the plaintiffs declared: “The consumers who sought advice from us were shocked to hear that the production price of the sweets they are buying had this dark and bitter cost”.

Nestlé on its part is denying any involvement while highlighting the method used to fight against this phenomenon. “We are taking measures to progressively abolish child labour. By assessing each case, we are tackling the problem at the source. A lot of money has been invested to improve the lifestyle of cocoa farmers. In Côte d'Ivoire, there is in addition a monitoring system against child labour", the group indicated.

Child labour is one of the ills pf the cocoa sector. According to a report from NGO International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) approximately 1.5 million children work in Ivorian and Ghanaian plantations.

It is worth noting that Nestlé recently decided to switch the supply chain for its Kit Kat brand to raw materials certified sustainable. This move was meant to quell the controversy on its implication in child labour.