A US consumer group is suing Starbucks, accusing it of concealing numerous labor and human rights abuses in its production of goods.

A US consumer group is suing Starbucks, the coffee chain that has long presented itself as a moral company and a just employer, alleging that its image is a lie that conceals numerous instances of labor and human rights abuses in the production of its goods.

The lawsuit alleges that despite the coffee giant's commitment to "100% ethical" sourcing, it has misled the public by obtaining supplies from farms and cooperatives that have engaged in a number of worker-violating breaches.

According to the lawsuit, Starbucks has taken advantage of the sizable and expanding customer demand for products and services produced ethically while failing to change its sourcing policies for coffee and tea.

Starbucks is facing allegations of child labor in Guatemalan farms, slavery-like conditions in Brazil, and the trafficking of migrant workers. A Kenyan tea plantation enterprise is also accused of sexual abuse, with supervisors pressuring women to engage in sexual relations as a condition of employment. The case highlights the company's alleged involvement in human trafficking and sexual abuse. 

Starbucks has long bragged about its reputation for sustainability and ethics, stating in its Global Human Rights Statement that it chooses suppliers who uphold these values in its business dealings. The National Consumers League lawsuit's assertions have been vehemently refuted by the firm.