A class action lawsuit, filed on Thursday in Los Angeles, could land Nestlé in a great deal of trouble as a result of the suppliers they use to make their pet food. 

The case submitted is on behalf of all those in California who bought their Fancy Feast brand pet food, but would not have done so if they had known that there were ties to a supplier that uses slave labour. 

According to the lawsuit, Thai Union Frozen Products PCL works with the company and imports 13 million kilograms of seafood for use in their pet food brands, and that some of those products were the result of slave labour. 

The suit outlines the conditions that workers have to go through, including shifts of up to 20 hours a day, as well as beatings or even death if the work is not to a certain standard. 

The work is mainly done by men and boys from Thailand's neighbouring poorer countries, and Steve Berman, managing partner of the Hagens Berman law firm who are taking the case said that "by hiding this from public view, Nestlé has effectively tricked millions of consumers into supporting and encouraging slave labour". 

Representatives from the company's Purina's pet food division have not yet commented on the situation. 

Via The Local