Industry is ignoring sugar cane violations, Dutch NGO claims

04-Jan-2016 - Last updated on 04-Jan-2016 at 15:02 GMT

Sugar cane: has been linked to harmful environmental impacts and land grab

Food manufacturers and retailers are turning a blind eye to the poor working conditions and land conflicts endemic in the production of sugar cane, a Dutch not-for-profit organisation has found.

The rights of workers and communities often suffer in areas where sugar cane is produced, according to the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO).

Widespread problems

In its Bittersweet report, SOMO claimed sustainability problems are widespread, and jobs in the sugar cane sector are often insecure, badly paid and health and safety regulations are not always respected.

In some producing countries even forced labour and child labour is reported. The production of sugar cane is also linked to harmful environmental impacts and land grab.

Sugar origin

Despite this, SOMO found sugar-using companies hardly ever asked for the origin of sugar. In addition, sugar-using companies did not generally specify from which suppliers they sourced their sugar, nor in what quantities.

It said only one large sugar-using company, Coca-Cola Enterprises, had committed to publish the names of all its first-tier suppliers in 2016.