Lindt controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2024
Child-labour concerns in Ghanaian cocoa supply
A Swiss Radio and Television investigation reported child labour on Ghanaian plantations connected to cocoa supplied to Lindt and questioned whether the company's monitoring programme, covering a large farmer network, was sufficient.
2022
Destruction of products criticised as food waste
Reports alleged that Lindt products in several German Edeka stores were destroyed rather than discounted even though they were not yet at their stated expiration dates. Lindt said products deemed unsuitable for sale were removed under its quality procedures.
2022
Heavy-metal findings in dark chocolate testing
Consumer Reports included a Lindt dark chocolate product in a study identifying lead or cadmium levels above California's daily exposure thresholds. The reference material notes that the cited cadmium level remained within the European Union limit for dark chocolate.
2020
Russian product-quality antitrust case
Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service investigated allegations that certain Lindt products sold in Russia differed in quality from products sold in Western markets without adequate consumer disclosure. Lindt denied differences other than labelling.
2017
Cocoa sourcing, deforestation, and sustainability criticism
Mighty Earth reported that cocoa used by major chocolate companies, including Lindt, was connected to cultivation in protected areas of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Later assessments credited Lindt with improvement in sustainability policies but continued to identify weaknesses in agroforestry and agrochemical management.