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Know Your Cocoa

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Do you know your cocoa? What’s really behind the delicious chocolate you eat on a daily basis? It’s something a lot more sinister than you think. Read on to learn more about the connection between cocoa and child labor.

This post was originally inspired by a documentary I watched in high school. I’ve been going through the archives recently and decided that it was time to revamp this one specifically since it touches on a topic that not many people are aware. But just because people aren’t aware, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have importance. In fact, I am hoping some of you will be able to change some of your buying practices based on the information I share with you today. Read on to learn more…

Know Your Cocoa | @Healthy_Helper Do you know your cocoa? What's really behind the delicious chocolate you eat on a daily basis? It's something a lot more sinister than you think. Read on to learn more about the connection between cocoa and child labor.

I wanted to share some info I just learned about this week. It’s really quite shocking and I think a lot of you would appreciate knowing about it.

On Friday, I watched a documentary called “The Dark Side of Chocolate”.

The Dark Side of Chocolate

Mmm chocolate, right?! But sadly this documentary was about something much more serious than just the sweet stuff all on its own. Here’s a short synopsis of the film:

A team of journalists investigate how human trafficking and child labor in the Ivory Coast fuels the worldwide chocolate industry. The crew interview both proponents and opponents of these alleged practices, and use hidden camera techniques to delve into the gritty world of cocoa plantations.

Human trafficking and cocoa? You wouldn’t normally think of those two things in relation to each other. Sadly they have a lot more in common than you’d think.

Slave Labor for Chocolate

The documentary goes to great lengths in great detail to expose how the largest cocoa manufacturers in the world (think Hershey’s, Nestle, etc.) buy their cocoa from plantations (most notably in the Ivory Coast) that use child labor to farm the cocoa pods. Not only is it illegal for companies (specifically in the cocoa industry) to buy/sell cocoa that has been produced by child labor, but also most of the kids that are working the plantations have been kidnapped from their homes and are usually worked until they die. Essentially, modern-day slavery.

It was awful to see the actual footage of the trafficked children and to see the interworkings of the whole trafficking process. If that aspect weren’t bad enough, the cocoa industry is aware of these horrible practices and yet continues to do nothing about it.

The reason the plantation owners resort to child labor (and I am in no way justifying their actions!), is because it is free and pretty much the only type they can afford.

Slave Labor for Chocolate

This is where the principles of Fair and Free Trade come into play. The farmers get such low (WAY BELOW market value!) prices for their cocoa products from the big cocoa manufacturers, that they hardly make any profit from which to live on. While the cocoa companies mark up the price of the cocoa 500 times and make astronomical amounts of money on the global market, the farmers and child workers suffer in poverty.

If the cocoa companies carried out their business in accordance with the practices of Fair and Free Trade and gave their producers reasonable payments for their goods, two bad situations could be resolved at once: child trafficking for labor would reduce drastically and the economic development in the impoverished nations these plantations are located in would improve due to the increases in profit. 

I realize it’s not exactly THAT simple. However, it is clear that the cocoa companies’ greed for money, outweighs their moral values. I for one, am definitely going to look a little more closely at the cocoa and chocolate products I buy next time I am at the store. Even if it means buying a higher priced product with a Fair Trade seal. It’s worth it to me to ensure that the people producing these products are getting the rightful payment for their work.

No more Hershey’s for this girl.

Raise the Bar Campaign

There was actually a petition started to get Hershey to change their business practice…this is what resulted once the group collected over 100,000 signatures:

On January 30th, 2012 , The Hershey Company announced that it would make a commitment to purchasing Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa for all of its Bliss Chocolate products, starting later this year.

This commitment is a welcome first step for Hershey to improve its supply chain accountability. This is the first commitment that Hershey has made to using an independent, third-party certification system to ensure that its cocoa is grown sustainably, including the monitoring of forced and child labor.

This commitment also demonstrates that The Hershey Company acknowledges the severity of the labor abuses that taint the West African cocoa sector, from where Hershey sources the majority of its cocoa.

The members of the Raise the Bar, Hershey! Campaign congratulate Hershey on this first step to achieve greater supply chain accountability and hope that it will be the beginning of comprehensive supply chain traceability and certified child-labor free Hershey chocolate products.

We declare partial victory today because of this announcement. We achieved this through sustained, consistent consumer-based advocacy targeted at Hershey. We collected over 100,000 petition signatures, through Change.org and other sources, and organized petition deliveries, brandjamming contests, protests, and Facebook rallies to blanket Hershey’s wall with messages.

Hershey made its announcement less than one week after we announced that an ad would run during the Super Bowl that would highlight the company’s use of child slavery in cocoa production.

While this is a tremendous step, the Raise the Bar, Hershey! Coalition will not end our advocacy here. We will continue to work to end child labor and exploitation in the cocoa industry and to push Hershey to increase traceability and justice throughout its chocolate supply chain.

Pretty amazing, right? I know it’s just one small step, but it shows how standing up for something and voicing your desire for change in the world can really make a difference. Consumers have power and companies are listening. We just have to remember to take action, vote with our dollars, and stay resolute in our decision to not support corrupt business practices.

By the way, if you’re on board with boycotting cocoa companies that support child labor, here are a few options you can choose from instead…

 Sweet Riot 

Theo Chocolate

Vosges

Equal Exchange

Endangered Species Chocolate

Alter ECO

Do you KNOW your COCOA?

Do you pay attention to Fair Trade seals when buying products?

Does info like this change your opinion of big companies?

 
 
 
 
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Wow this is so sad! It’s terrible that there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that we don’t know about when it comes to our food production.

    I usually buy fair trade coffee because I’ve read about ethical issues concerning coffee – but I don’t usually buy other fair trade products. I’m going to have to start being a little more careful about chocolate now. Thanks for posting about this girl! 🙂

    Reply

  6. Oh my gosh- I had absolutely no idea! That is devastating.
    I’ve always heard about the controversy over coffee and how it’s made unethically, but never chocolate. I stick with fair-trade, organic chocolate products so I don’t think I’ve been supporting these companies, but I’m definitely going to have to be more careful and aware from now on.
    I would love to watch that documentary! (I’m such a documentary nerd…)

    Reply

  7. I had no idea! This is such an interesting post, thanks for sharing it with us!
    And I love love love the yogi quote! Hope you’re having a great weekend 🙂

    Reply

  9. Interesting about the cocoa. I never actually knew that! At all. I don’t eat a lot of processed commercialized chocolate to begin with (hello-more expensive and more Delicious brands…). Love your ending quote K! Have a great Sunday!

    Reply

  12. Wow I honestly had no idea, thank you for this post and bringing more awareness to this issue. I will definitely be more cautious when buying cocoa now. Now I’m off to check the bag I have!!

    Reply

  14. I really enjoyed your post! I became passionate about fair trade and fighting human trafficking two years ago when I first heard about modern day slavery from a representative from an organization called International Justice Mission (you should check it out!). I think it’s so important for people to become more aware of the sources of their food and other products they buy – the sad thing is that child and forced labor are not only used in cocoa production, but also to make coffee, tea and to harvest fruit and many other products. This year for lent I decided to eliminate all slave made products from my lifestyle and it was HARD! I blogged about it at http://nicollesorganizedchaos.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/slavery-and-lent/ in case you’d like to read more. I want to work later against human trafficking and I’m always so excited to find other people who care about human rights as well! Way to go!

    Reply

  15. ‘. However, it is clear that the cocoa companies’ greed for money, outweighs their moral values’ This is sad, but it’s sadly true, and I think that your article made me think more about the chocolate I buy. I’m going to be looking more carefully for that Fair Trade seal, because it is important to treat each person fairly and justly.

    Reply

  16. I’m thankful that Hershey is making an effort to fight human trafficking and slavery too. We support an organization called Joy International that fights human trafficking. And I want to be self-consistent about fighting it, so thank you for this food for thought.

    Reply

  17. I really want to watch this documentary now, it sounds like quite the eye opener! I’ve know I’ve heard mention of this issue before, but I didn’t know much. I need to step up my cocoa buying game it seems, one more thing to add to my always long Vitacost list 🙂

    Reply

  19. YESSS! It is SO important to know where your food is coming from and who it’s affecting. I think we too often focus on labels like “organic” and forget about the people behind the food. Are the farmers getting a good deal or are they being exploited? It’s not even farmers in third world countries – it’s farmers right across our own country that often get paid unfairly in an effort to stay competitive in a market that always wants things cheaper!

    Reply

  21. Such an informative post! Thanks for sharing!

    I was aware of the ethical issues involved with cocoa because a good friend of ours is starting his own chocolate business. He has been working hard at sourcing ethical ingredients and even started growing his own cocoa beans in Hawaii.

    Reply

  23. This is so heartbreaking. I’ve heard of practices like this before, I just never really thought about them in the cocoa industry. I do love chocolate and bake with cocoa often. I’m going to have to do some research about the local spice shops around here and see what I have available in the way of free trade. If there isn’t anything, then Amazon it is!

    Reply

  24. WOW! How interesting! This info definitely changes my perspective and how I feel about cocoa companies. This is just so heartbreaking but I am so glad I read this.

    Reply

  25. thanks for sharing this post. I know there are so many awful things that happen behind the scenes of making cocoa that so many people don’t even know about. and sadly, it’s the big brands who perpetuate the situations like this. it’s a big reason I try to buy fair trade/organic chocolate whenever I can afford it. great post ♥

    Reply

  28. This was an eye opener. As an ex home economics teacher I will pass this on to colleagues still teaching, for them to read and use. This way we can help spread the word.

    Reply

  29. Hi Kaila,
    There is so much of this going on but people are not aware of it. Child labor is so countries are the norm sadly. I am so glad to know that Hershey has listened to what the people wanted and starting changing their practices. I live very near the Hershey Chocolate Factory so this hits close home. I am so glad that you have written this excellent article and making people aware of it. Thank you for your research. . Thank you for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!

    Reply

  30. Kaila, I had no idea. I am definitely going to look into this documentary, it may be hard to watch but something I would like to see. Thank you so much for the heads-up about Hershey. I will be looking into my Cocoa much more carefully from here on out. There is an abundance of money in the world. Too bad that some people have to hold onto most of it and make money off of other people, and their Misfortune, especially children.

    Reply

  31. Kaila, I haven’t bought any Hershey products in many years. I buy only organic and Fair Trade Certified (and, if possible, Rainforest Alliance Certified). Since it was founded in 2001, Dagoba (based in Oregon) has been my first choice in chocolate and cocoa products. I recently learned that company was purchased by Hershey in 2006. It always alarms me when a big conventional corporation buys up a small sustainable company (like Hormel buying Applegate, General Mills buying Muir Glen). So many people are not aware that the cocoa (and coffee) they love has been brought to them in such awful ways. If you’ve not yet looked into the coffee trade, please do so soon.

    Reply

  32. Great article and good for you for taken a stance! I’ve tried to boycott Nestle, but it’s amazing how many products they produce. I’ll be adding Hersheys to my list!! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up and don’t forget to leave a comment at the party – Next week’s features that also leave a comment get pinned and tweeted!

    Reply

  34. Oh yikes. I am so glad you shared this with us. I had never really given much thought to where my chocolate comes from (despite the fact that I’m so careful with the rest of my food).
    I know a group of my friends will only buy chocolate that is from the Food Empowerment’s Chocolate List (http://www.foodispower.org/chocolate-list/). It’s something I didn’t really look into until just now, but this has inspired me to know more about my chocolate and buy properly sourced stuff.

    Reply

  35. It’s really sad to hear this is actually happening. I am definitely going to pay more attention to Fairtrade logo now and only buy products which are Fairtrade. I really don’t want to support child labour!
    #brillblogposts

    Reply

  36. Thank you for sharing. I often by fair trade chocolate (because I buy organic). Now I know why I should continue. I have up Hershey a long time ago. But I will rethink all my chocolate buying habits. I do love chocolate.

    Reply

  37. Very useful information! I will definitely be more cognizant when buying chocolate. Thanks for sharing at the Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up!!

    Reply

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