> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Continuing Cases Against Big Chocolate | #PSC 183 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/the-continuing-cases-against-big-chocolate-psc-183/ - Published: 2026-02-23T18:56:27.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-14T17:30:02.000Z - Description: OVERVIEW: Episode 183 features an interview with Terry Collingsworth of International Rights Advocates, updating the (legal) cases against Big Chocolate in the US. Along the way, we’ll take a look at their history, too. [ Updated ] - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream 🗓️ Episode 183 streamed live on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. Click a link below to view the archived episode. This ****YOUTUBE** link is shareable. 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[Watch this episode on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/1CAPCLtB3X/) --- ## **Episode 183 Overview** In this episode, Terry Collingsworth, the Executive Director of International Rights Advocates, will join me to discuss the history of legal actions in the US against Big Chocolate as well as some recent updates to cases that may lead to positive resolutions (eventually). ### **The TL;DR Intro/Overview** A D.C. Superior Court judge has allowed a consumer protection lawsuit against Mars, Cargill, and (more narrowly) Mondelēz to proceed, alleging deceptive marketing about child labor conditions in their W African cocoa supply chains. The case is brought by International Rights Advocates under the [D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/titles/28/chapters/39/?ref=thechocolatelife.com). > **Key rulings:** Claims against Mars and Cargill move forward based on allegedly misleading “responsible cocoa,” traceability, and monitoring claims. > > Claims against Mondelēz are partially dismissed where Cadbury (which is owned by Mondelēz) products are made under Hershey license in the U.S. The court finds jurisdiction in D.C. because the companies sell and allegedly misled consumers there, and rejects a First Amendment defense, holding that commercial sustainability claims are regulable when misleading. > > The decision contrasts with a prior federal appellate ruling that dismissed former Malian child workers’ claims for failure to tie forced labor to specific farms. **Overall, the ruling signals that aspirational ESG and “ethical sourcing” claims in cocoa can create legal exposure when reality diverges from marketing.** [IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-61.ico)IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/1.-IRA-LOGO.png)](https://www.internationalrightsadvocates.org/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Kassim, et al. v. Cargill, Mars, and Mondelēz — IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-62.ico)IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Terry.png)](https://www.internationalrightsadvocates.org/cases/ghana?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [11.29.23 FINAL Ghana Complaint11.29.23 FINAL Ghana Complaint.pdf2 MBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/02/11.29.23-FINAL-Ghana-Complaint.pdf "Download") [John Doe 1 et. al v. Nestlé and Cargill — IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-63.ico)IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Cargill.png)](https://www.internationalrightsadvocates.org/cases/doevsnestlecargill?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Issouf Coubaly et. al v. Nestlé, Cargill, Barry Callebaut, Mars, Olam, Mondelēz, and Hershey. — IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-64.ico)IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Screen-Shot-2021-08-24-at-2.19.55-PM.png)](https://www.internationalrightsadvocates.org/cases/cocoa?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [ratha-v-rubicon-ninth-circuit-reversal.pdf | Aaron HaleguaLast week, the Ninth Circuit, in an en banc opinion, reversed the decisions of the district court and a prior panel, and declared that Congress’ amendment to the TVPRA clarifies that parties can be held civilly liable for attempting to benefit from forced labor and human trafficking. My law firm is proud to have assisted in this effort by submitting an amicus brief on behalf of four members of the U.S. Congress, arguing that the amendment should apply retroactively—the position adopted by the en banc panel. This decision clears the way for seven Cambodian villagers, who were subjected to forced labor in a Thai seafood factory, to move forward with their litigation against the U.S. companies that imported shrimp from that factory and attempted to sell it (unsuccessfully) to Walmart. Big congratulations to Agnieszka Fryszman of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC and all the other attorneys, labor groups, law professors, and others who assisted! The Human Trafficking Legal Center, Corporate Accountability Lab, Tyler Giannini, Global Labor Justice. #forcedlabor https://lnkd.in/edzkgvvZ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/al2o9zrvru7aqj8e1x2rzsrca-33)LinkedInAaron Halegua![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/c45fy346jw096z9pbphyyhdz7-24)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aaron-halegua-72b6a51%5Fratha-v-rubicon-ninth-circuit-reversalpdf-activity-7430771183844896768-yxUN?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) [Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the Tariff Act of 1930 — IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-65.ico)IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2023-08-15-at-8.23.23-PM.png)](https://www.internationalrightsadvocates.org/cases/cbp?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Advocate — IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-66.ico)IRAadvocates![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/1.-IRA-LOGO-1.png)](https://www.internationalrightsadvocates.org/advocate?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Become an advocate – what you can do to help! --- ### **Knock-on Effects?** 1. **For anyone in specialty/craft chocolate, this is a warning and, *potentially*, an opening.** By implication: - Any brand that leans heavily on **“ethical,” “direct trade,” “child‑labor free,” or “we ensure farmers are paid fairly”** language *is moving into territory where courts are becoming more willing to scrutinize claims*. - At the same time, brands with genuinely documented, narrow, and transparent supply chains may find that the **credibility gap with big‑brand ESG PR** is finally getting legal recognition. Think of a ruling for the plaintiffs that survives the inevitable appeals as drawing a bright line between two broad classes of claims: 1. **Descriptive, bounded, evidence‑backed claims** → relatively safe(r). 2. **Sweeping ethical assurances about complex, high‑risk origins** → exposure to risk similar to claims Mars/Cargill/Modelēz are being sued over. --- ### **Related Resources** [Harkin–Engel Protocol - Wikipedia![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/wikipedia-11.png)Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.Contributors to Wikimedia projects![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Chuao_003-1.JPG)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harkin%E2%80%93Engel%5FProtocol?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Child labour in cocoa production - Wikipedia![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/wikipedia-12.png)Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.Contributors to Wikimedia projects![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Chuao_003-2.JPG)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child%5Flabour%5Fin%5Fcocoa%5Fproduction?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [GoodWeave![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/cropped-Goodweave-Logo-no-Tagline-transparent-270x270.png)logo![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/logo_new.png)](https://goodweave.org/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Mentioned in the live stream. [Fair trade - Wikipedia![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/wikipedia-13.png)Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.Contributors to Wikimedia projects![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/1280px-Fair_Trade_Tea.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair%5Ftrade?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [The Changing Landscape of Cocoa Sourcing: Part 1For decades, large traders have dominated cocoa sourcing ecosystems. While that is still true, there are many new, alternative, sourcing options these days. But do all of them (any of them?) offer meaningful alternatives to the status quo? Part 1 of 4 parts.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-407.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/timelab-sWOvgOOFk1g-unsplash-Featured1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/the-changing-landscape-of-cocoa-sourcing-part-1/) [TheChocolateLifeLIVE – The Chocolate War 2023Episode 99 of #TheChocolateLifeLIVE streams Friday, March 17th from 12:00\~13:00 EDT.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-404.png)The Chocolate LifeTheChocolateWire![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/ChocolateWar-Composite-Featured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelifelive-the-chocolate-war-2023/) [UPDATED: TheChocolateLife :: LIVE From the Front w/ Miki MistratiEpisode 36 streams LIVE from 12:00 EDT / 17:00 BST on Tuesday April 26th.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-405.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/mikiMwithPosterFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-w-miki-mistrati/) [The New Case Against Mars, et al | #PodSaveChocolateEpisode 8 of #PodSaveChocolate features Terry Collingsworth of International Rights Advocates Starting time: 10 am PST / 1 pm EST / 6 pm GMT.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-403.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Ep-008-IRAdvocates--Featured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/the-new-case-against-mars-et-al-podsavechocolate/) [TheChocolateLife :: LIVE w/ Terry Collingsworth, International Rights AdvocatesFriday, January 21st, 12:00 EST.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-402.png)The Chocolate LifeTheChocolateWire![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/composite_FeaturedImage-1.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-w-terry-collingsworth-international-rights-advocates/) [Updated – Slavery on TrialA room on Clubhouse was scheduled for July 28th with Special Guests Terry Collingsworth of International Rights Advocates and Ayn Riggs of SlaveFreeChocolate\_org.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-406.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/rod-long-f6PNAO4Kn18-unsplashFeaturedImage1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/slavery-on-trial/) --- ### **Upcoming Episodes** 🗓️ Friday, February 27th ****Dubiously Dubai(r)** – what might end the Dubai-***style** bar trend. 🗓️ Tuesday, March 3rd ****Salon du Chocolat NYC 2026 Preview** --- ### **Episode Hashtags** #InternationalRightsAdvocates #childslavery #illegalchildlabor #illegalchildlabour #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards, below. 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