Migrant workers have filed a human rights complaint alleging that dairy farms supplying Hannaford's store-brand milk fail to meet basic human rights standards, highlighting significant issues in labor treatment and supply chain ethics related to the company's sourcing practices.

Hannaford Supermarkets has launched an independent review of its dairy supply chain to investigate possible worker and human rights violations. The review, which began in early April and is managed by a third-party auditor (Enact), was initiated days before a formal human rights complaint was filed, reflecting a reactive yet positive step toward addressing longstanding labor concerns raised by activists.

Vermont dairy farmworkers, organized by Migrant Justice, protested outside Hannaford's headquarters on May 25, 2024, demanding that the company join the Milk with Dignity program to improve labor conditions, wages, and protections for migrant dairy workers. The protest highlighted concerns over unsafe working conditions and poor pay in parts of Hannaford's supply chain.

Multiple farmworkers on farms supplying Hannaford have reported enduring abusive working conditions including violence, long hours without breaks, and unsafe living environments, with complaints made through Hannaford’s 'Speak-Up Line' being largely ignored. The failure to adequately address these issues raises serious concerns about worker rights and corporate accountability.

On June 27, 2023, Hannaford pushed back against calls from Migrant Justice to join its Milk with Dignity Program, which was proposed to redress alleged labor abuses in its dairy supply chain. While the grocery chain asserts its commitment to fair and humane treatment of farm workers and emphasizes its reliance on industry-wide audits and external assessments, its refusal to adopt the activist proposal raises concerns about fully addressing longstanding worker grievances.