Chocolate vs Child Labour

Chocolate Vs Child Labour

There are chocolate companies that are using children as slaves to work for their company. Companies like Hershey's, H.B Reese Candy Company and Nestle. This may seem like a big lie but it is the cold truth. Some of you may enjoy the chocolates that these companies make so you might not like the truth, the scandals these companies have been doing. These three companies have been trafficking children and forcing them to work for their company.

Nestle Statement:

Nestle has investigated a long term cocoa plan in West Africa. It is already making a positive difference to farmers lives, their families and the community all over the world. This plan involves 12 million higher yielding cocoa plants so farmers get better yields and prices. They also get farmer field training as well as significant social development projects that improve communities access to education and basic needs such as water and food.

Whittaker's Statement:

The Whittaker’s company does not approve any action of child labour. They are sure that they are supporting the work that’s being led in Ghana through organisations. For example:Fairtrade and the World Cocoa Foundation are organisations in Ghana. These organisations ensure that the cocoa is growing in a social and responsible environment. The beans that Whittaker’s use are imported from Madagascar as well. Though, only a small quality is used for Whittaker’s Milk Madagascar product.The entire cocoa industry in Ghana goes through a certification process to make sure that the cocoa is growing responsibly without any abusive child labour. The process is supervised by the International Cocoa Verification Board. In 2007, the report from the pilot study showed no evidence of children being bound on cocoa farms. This will damage the children’s education. There are 800,000 cocoa farms in Ghana that are working for Whittaker’s. However, there is still no proof that kids are being forced to work for them. Whittaker’s check that the ingredients are ready before they export the cocoa to Fairtrade.

Cadbury Statement:

Cadbury believes that any action of child labour is unacceptable. Their company are investing 45 million British dollars over a decade. The money is used to pay for the cocoa to grow better. It is also used to pay for their investments. The investment is to help bring an end to child labour. The audit’s results within the ‘Chocolate - The Bitter Truth’ documentary prove that the Fairtrade system is capable of handling the issues that it was addressed to. New Zealand and Australia import most of their cocoa from Ghana and South East Asia. They do not hire any workers directly. Though, N.Z and Australia do not own any cocoa farms as well. Cadbury told Sunday that in order for anybody to make a 100% guarantee that there is definitely no children being forced to work, someone would have to be on every cocoa farm in Ghana and South East Asia for 365 days, 24 hours a day. There are about 1.5 million farms in West Africa altogether. They know that traditionally, children help their family on the farm. However, Cadbury does not want this to get in the way with the children’s education and to protect them from any harm. That is the reason why Cadbury is subsidizing 45 million GBP over 10 years in the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership.

Report done by Maranita