Opinion| 2-minute read
Embedded Files
Chcolate's even bitter side
By Brixson James De Torres
Chocolate—a staple snack in our daily life. From ice cream and cake flavors to snack bars! The cacao beans are then processed into cocoa, from which we can make all sorts of things—chocolate, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder, from which all other chocolate products come.
Chocolate—a staple snack in our daily life. From ice cream and cake flavors to snack bars! The cacao beans are then processed into cocoa, from which we can make all sorts of things—chocolate, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder, from which all other chocolate products come.
Yet what really happens behind the scenes is that there is an even bitter reality to our beloved sweet treats. There is a large unequal distribution in the chocolate industry supply chain, huge conglomerates like Nestlé and Hershey’s keep the price of cocoa down, which hurts the farmers who actually produce them, forcing them to turn to child and forced labor.
Yet what really happens behind the scenes is that there is an even bitter reality to our beloved sweet treats. There is a large unequal distribution in the chocolate industry supply chain, huge conglomerates like Nestlé and Hershey’s keep the price of cocoa down, which hurts the farmers who actually produce them, forcing them to turn to child and forced labor.
According to the VOICE network, approximately 2.1 million children in Ghana and the Ivory Coast work on cacao plantations, and according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), they are subjected to the “worst forms of child labour,” which include practices that can harm the health, safety, or morals of children.
According to the VOICE network, approximately 2.1 million children in Ghana and the Ivory Coast work on cacao plantations, and according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), they are subjected to the “worst forms of child labour,” which include practices that can harm the health, safety, or morals of children.
In a 2021 US Supreme Court class-action lawsuit against Nestlé, Nestlé USA & Cargill v. Doe, people who were enslaved as children sought damages from the two companies after being trafficked and exploited at one of these plantations, in which the court ruled in favor of the companies.
In a 2021 US Supreme Court class-action lawsuit against Nestlé, Nestlé USA & Cargill v. Doe, people who were enslaved as children sought damages from the two companies after being trafficked and exploited at one of these plantations, in which the court ruled in favor of the companies.
Is this truly what it has come to? Companies so large that even blatant evidence, open accusations, boycotts, and protests do nothing to harm them? Will they not be held accountable?
Is this truly what it has come to? Companies so large that even blatant evidence, open accusations, boycotts, and protests do nothing to harm them? Will they not be held accountable?
A Dutch chocolate company, Tony’s Chocolonely, founded in 2005, knows this, and its mission as a company is to end slavery in the chocolate industry. They only source traceable seeds and pay cocoa farmers the fair price they deserve. Their goal is to spread as much awareness as they can about the cocoa industry, and eventually end exploitation in the cocoa supply chain.
A Dutch chocolate company, Tony’s Chocolonely, founded in 2005, knows this, and its mission as a company is to end slavery in the chocolate industry. They only source traceable seeds and pay cocoa farmers the fair price they deserve. Their goal is to spread as much awareness as they can about the cocoa industry, and eventually end exploitation in the cocoa supply chain.
As a plus, their chocolate actually tastes really good, and it's not that much more expensive than regular chocolate.
As a plus, their chocolate actually tastes really good, and it's not that much more expensive than regular chocolate.
I know there is not much we can personally do, but as much as we can, we must spread awareness about the bitter side of chocolate production. One company alone is not enough to change an industry, and I believe we should all demand accountability and take action for this injustice.
I know there is not much we can personally do, but as much as we can, we must spread awareness about the bitter side of chocolate production. One company alone is not enough to change an industry, and I believe we should all demand accountability and take action for this injustice.
Before you buy that cheap old regular chocolate bar off the shelf, maybe take a moment and think: whose hands could have made it?
Before you buy that cheap old regular chocolate bar off the shelf, maybe take a moment and think: whose hands could have made it?
Page updated
Report abuse