Chocolate and Child Slavery: Say No to Human Trafficking this Holiday Season

[soleiltropiques]

The prevalence of human trafficking, child slavery, and abusive labor practices in the cacao industry is surprisingly under-reported. With the average U.S. citizen eating over 11 pounds of chocolate (that's about 120 chocolate bars), per year, it is incredible to consider how few of us are aware of the atrocities involved in 70 percent or more of

Comments

[saoru]

This is absolutely horrifying. But does anyone know if there are any remotely ethical brands that can be bought at Wal-Mart? I've looked through these articles and all I seem to be turning up is small artisan stuff. I don't have much of a choice in where I shop, so I guess the only other alternative is to try to start cutting out chocolate...

[perthro]

I love me some chocolate, and I'll be honest, I get random cravings for chocolate pretty strongly. Pregnant lady craving strong. But in the end, I decided to just reduce chocolate wherever I can, and to simply eat slower, smaller bites of richer stuff from Wal-mart or Walgreens (you might have Rite Aid or other equivalents near you). If it's Hersheys, I can eat all day because its mostly sugared wax flavoured like chocolate. But richer (albeit more expensive) chocolate makes me want to eat less because I'm satisfied with smaller amounts. You might find the same works for you.

[romp]

So true. I've had bars that are made from one batch of pods--bean to bar--and they're so intense that they're filled with flavours I've never encountered before *and* you don't want more than a couple bites at a time because of the intensity. i.e. they're not just brown sugar bars

[nycscribbler]

For relatively guiltless chocolate, try Tcho. Om nom nom, and *very* anti-slavery.

[tsu_]

I wish there was a list of chocolate companies that are ethical - I buy a lot of EU based chocolate (Nereidegger, Ritter Sport and Galler) and I'm pretty sure it's ethically sourced but it's hard to tell.....

[sitakhet]

According to the Buycott app (thanks ebay313!) Lindt chocolate doesn't have any conflicts attached to it (I scanned the big big bars for baking.)

However it would be nice to know Canadian options out there - fellow Canadians, got any ideas?

[er0tic_chill]

The chocolate bars and chocolate chips sold by Ten Thousand Villages is all fair trade. The bars are called Cocoa Camino.

[sitakhet]

Oh, excellent! I actually have one relatively close to my house. Thanks! :)