The Dark Side of the Chocolate Industry

Summary

Chocolate, a beloved global treat, hides a dark side linked to exploitation and human rights violations. The cocoa industry, particularly in West Africa, relies on child labor and slavery, with over 2 million children working in hazardous conditions. Despite public promises by chocolate giants like Nestlé, Hershey’s, and Cadbury to end these practices, little progress has been made. Many companies manipulate certifications and fail to ensure fair wages for farmers, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. While some ethical alternatives exist, they remain the minority, and the industry's exploitation continues largely unchecked.

Takeaways

• 😀 The global chocolate industry is worth $130 billion, with nearly 8 million tons consumed worldwide every year, but it hides dark secrets behind its production.
• 🌍 Over 70% of cocoa beans come from West Africa, particularly the Ivory Coast and Ghana, where chocolate production is linked to severe social issues, including child labor and exploitation.
• 🍫 The history of chocolate production is deeply rooted in colonialism, slavery, and exploitation, with companies like Hershey's, Cadbury, and Nestlé benefiting from these practices.
• 🚸 Child labor remains rampant in the chocolate industry, particularly in countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana, where an estimated 2.1 million children work in cocoa production, often in dangerous and inhumane conditions.
• 🔨 Children are often forced to work long hours, using dangerous tools, and suffer physical abuse, including beatings and injuries, with little to no access to education or healthcare.
• 🔗 Child trafficking for cocoa production is widespread, with children being sold into slavery by traffickers who promise them work or education, only to trap them in grueling conditions.
• ⚖️ Even when child labor is exposed, powerful corporations and local governments often cover up the abuse, protecting the profits from the cocoa trade over human rights.
• 🏢 Chocolate giants, including Nestlé, Mars, and Hershey's, have made empty promises to reduce child labor but have consistently failed to meet their goals, often shifting blame to their supply chains.
• 💡 Fair trade certifications, while offering hope for exploitation-free chocolate, often fall short. Inspections are sometimes manipulated, and farmers rarely see the benefits of fair trade premiums.
• 💸 Despite the chocolate industry's enormous profits, major companies like Ferrero, Nestlé, and Mars refuse to pay cocoa farmers a living wage or provide meaningful improvements to their conditions.

Q & A

What is the current worth of the global chocolate industry as of 2023?

As of 2023, the global chocolate industry is worth approximately $130 billion.

Where does the majority of the world's cocoa come from?

Over 70% of the world's cocoa beans are produced along the coast of West Africa, particularly in countries like the Ivory Coast and Ghana.

How did cocoa come to be produced in Africa?

Cocoa was initially cultivated in Mesoamerica, where it was used as currency by the Maya. The Spanish introduced it to the rest of the world during the colonial period, and as demand for chocolate grew, cocoa production shifted to Africa in the 1800s due to its lower costs and lack of public scrutiny.

What historical issue has been associated with cocoa plantations, especially during the 1700s?

Cocoa plantations in the 1700s relied heavily on enslaved Africans for labor, continuing the legacy of slavery even as new technologies sped up the cocoa processing.

What happened to Cadbury in the early 1900s regarding its cocoa sourcing?

In 1905, Cadbury faced a scandal when it was discovered that their cocoa beans were sourced from plantations in Portuguese colonies, where slavery was still practiced. The company responded by pledging not to buy from these plantations.

How does the global demand for chocolate contribute to the exploitation of child labor?

To keep chocolate affordable, many plantation owners in countries like the Ivory Coast and Ghana rely on cheap labor, including children, who are often forced into grueling, unsafe working conditions with no access to education or adequate nutrition.

How many children are estimated to be working in cocoa farming in the Ivory Coast and Ghana?

An estimated 2.1 million children are working on cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, often working between 60 and 100 hours per week under hazardous conditions.

How do child trafficking and slavery play a role in the cocoa industry?

Many children are trafficked into the cocoa industry from impoverished countries like Burkina Faso and Mali, either by being sold by their families or through human trafficking rings, and are forced to work long hours on cocoa farms, often enduring physical abuse.

What was the 2001 lawsuit about regarding major chocolate companies?

In 2001, a major lawsuit was filed in the United States on behalf of six Malian children rescued from cocoa farms, exposing the use of child slavery by large chocolate companies like Nestle, Hershey's, Mars, and Cadbury.

How effective have chocolate companies been in eliminating child labor from their supply chains?

Despite public promises to reduce child labor, major chocolate companies have repeatedly missed deadlines. By 2020, the goal to reduce child labor by 70% had not been achieved, and many companies continue to downplay their responsibility by claiming they don't know where the cocoa beans come from.

What is the issue with fair trade certifications in the chocolate industry?

While fair trade certifications aim to ensure cocoa is produced without exploitation, many of these certifications are often meaningless, with inspections being announced in advance and with premiums not always reaching the farmers. Additionally, certified cocoa can still get mixed with non-certified beans.