A research by Fairfood International, CNV Internationaal and the Central American Institute for Social Studies has shown that workers in the sugarcane industry of Nicaragua and Guatemala are suffering from a lack of decent working conditions and many of them are consequently contracting the devastating Chronic Kidney Disease of non-Traditional causes (CKDnT). Among the main causes of this disease are long working days in warm conditions with lack of access to drinking water, breaks, and shade. The report explored the supply chain of rum and found that Diageo and Bacardi are sourcing from local producers (ingenios) with these "dangerous" working conditions.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Bacardi and Diageo to respond to these allegations; the responses are provided below.