Slavery in the Chocolate Industry Chocolate is a product of the cacao bean which grows primarily in the tropical climates of West Africa and Latin America. “Forced Child Labor and Cocoa Production in West Africa.”. There are lots of issues related to chocolate slavery - poverty, power, politics and more. To assist consumers with their chocolate purchases, we have created a, of companies that make vegan chocolates that we do and do not recommend, and it is available in, . This list, which includes more than 700 companies, is updated monthly. September 2006. It took two people to put the bag on my head. In addition, we have free apps (. ) The government of the Ivory Coast blames the foreign countries which supply the slaves, and who also run many of the Cocoa Plantations. Two West African countries, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, supply 75% of the world’s cocoa market. Cases often involve acts of physical violence, such as being whipped for working slowly or trying to escape. [20] In some cases, the children sleep on wooden planks in small windowless buildings with no access to clean water or sanitary bathrooms.[21]. 2012. [1] The cocoa they grow and harvest is sold to a majority of chocolate companies, including the largest in the world. “Oversight of Public and Private Initiatives to Eliminate Worst Forms of Child Labor in the Cocoa Sector in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.”, BBC. “How to Buy a Conflict-Free Valentine’s Day Gift.”, United States Department of Labor. On average, cocoa farmers earn less than $2 per day, an income below the poverty line. [29]. The company purchases the primary ingredient in its products from sources notorious for abusive labor practices including forced labor, human trafficking, and child slavery. “Chocolate is a consumer product, which means when it comes to the eradication of child slavery in the industry, we, the consumers, have all of the power,” says Riggs. The children of Western Africa are surrounded by intense poverty, and most begin working at a young age to help support their families. Slavery in the Chocolate Industry: The Ivory Coast in Africa produces much of the world’s cocoa beans, but in order to do so cheaply, thousands of cocoa farms use child slavery. Chocolate LIST The list below reflects Food Empowerment Project’s (F.E.P.) The farmers of these poor nations are notorious, however, for sometimes relying on slaves to harvest their beans, The slaves are boys between 12 and 16 sometimes as young as 9 ~ who are kidnapped from villages in … Without an education, the children of the cocoa farms have little hope of ever breaking the cycle of poverty. “2012 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor.”, Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International. March 25, 2012. [28] While it remains possible that some Latin American farms may employ these practices, it is not widely documented as it is in Western Africa. Western African countries, mostly Ghana and the Ivory Coast,[2] supply more than 70% of the world’s cocoa. March 2012. These large, heavy, dangerous knives are the standard tools for children on the cocoa farms,[18] which violates international labor laws and a UN convention on eliminating the worst forms of child labor. [7] The farms of Western Africa supply cocoa to international giants such as Hershey’s, Mars, and Nestlé—revealing the industry’s direct connection to the worst forms of child labor, human trafficking, and slavery. Systemic issues in business ethics are ethical questions raised about the economic, political, legal, and other institutions within which business operate. [27] At this time, neither slavery nor child labor have been documented on these cocoa farms. [18], A child’s workday typically begins at six in the morning and ends in the evening. Here's how to ensure your gifts of love are slave-free and sustainable, says Janise Elie. [18] Some of the children use chainsaws to clear the forests. The chocolate industry is also being called upon to develop and financially support programs to rescue and rehabilitate children who have been sold to cocoa farms. © 2021 Food Empowerment Project | Food Empowerment Project is a registered non-profit, 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. “Governments Look to End Child Labor in West African Cocoa Farming.”. Hershey is the largest maker of chocolate in the United States, and gets their supply from … “2012 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Ghana.”, Harkin, Tom, and Engel, Eliot L. February 14, 2005. < Food for Thought. April 22, 2001. July 16, 2010. The case study Slavery in the Chocolate Industry raises systemic, corporate, and individual ethical issues with all the parties involved in the chocolate industry. On cocoa farms, 10% of child laborers in Ghana and 40% in the Ivory Coast do not attend school,[2] which violates the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Child Labour Standards. Within their $60-billion industry,[27] chocolate companies have the power to end the use of child labor and slave labor by paying cocoa farmers a living wage for their product. When asked what he would tell people who eat chocolate made from slave labor, he replied that they enjoyed something that he suffered to make, adding, “When people eat chocolate, they are eating my flesh.”[22]. “Convention 182.”, PR Newswire. The list is available on our website along with free downloadable apps for the iPhone and Android. has created a list with vegan chocolates that we do and do not recommend based on the sourcing of the cocoa. ... Seduced by chocolate? slavery in the chocolate industry. Hershey, which is the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world, gets most of its cocoa from West Africa. Slavery in the chocolate industry raises many issues including systematic, corporate and individual ethical issue. [2]. Every month we contact companies to determine where their cacao is sourced. 2013. Kramer, Anna. 2012. The cacao bean is more commonly referred to as cocoa, so that is the term we will use throughout. “Ivory Coast Arrests 3 Journalists over Cocoa Story.”, Sackett, Marjie. [3] Despite the industry’s claims, child labor still plagues cocoa farms in Western Africa. And when you didn’t hurry, you were beaten.”[4], Holding a single large pod in one hand, each child has to strike the pod with a machete and pry it open with the tip of the blade to expose the cocoa beans. Conversation with Abby Mills, May 28, 2014. A self-imposed deadline by chocolate makers to end child slavery among suppliers has been repeatedly extended, most recently until 2020, according to the lawsuits. He filmed illegal child labor on these farms, including those certified by UTZ and Rainforest Alliance. [3], In recent years, a handful of organizations and journalists have exposed the widespread use of child labor, and in some cases slavery, on cocoa farms in Western Africa. Reporters have also documented cases where children and adults were locked in at night to prevent them from escaping. Aside from large-scale production in Western Africa, a significant amount of cocoa is also grown in Latin America. Slavery in the Chocolate Industry Chocolate is a product of the cacao bean which grows primarily in the tropical climates of West Africa and Latin America. The majority of children have scars on their hands, arms, legs or shoulders from the machetes. The children are often given meager portions of food and tattered clothing, but rarely have a chance to go to school or even to taste the final product of their hard labor: chocolate. In 2009, the founders of the fair trade certification process had to suspend several of their Western African suppliers due to evidence that they were using child labor. Senator Tom Harkin proposed an addition to an agriculture bill to label qualified chocolate and cocoa products as "slave free". [24][32] Once they cut the bean pods from the trees, the children pack the pods into sacks that weigh more than 100 pounds when full and drag them through the forest [17] Aly Diabate, a former cocoa slave, said, “Some of the bags were taller than me. [31] This lack of transparency is characteristic of the chocolate industry, which has the resources to address and eliminate child labor but consistently fails to take action. Here are a few lists of those companies. [9] As the chocolate industry has grown over the years, so has the demand for cheap cocoa. Despite years of promises by the chocolate industry, child labor remains widespread on cocoa farms. Price, Larry C. July 10, 2013. [6] In 2010, Ivorian government authorities detained three newspaper journalists after they published an article exposing government corruption in the cocoa sector. Mars, Nestlé and Hershey to face child slavery lawsuit in US This article is more than 2 months old Chocolate companies are among the defendants named in … Human labor & slavery. [8] Other children are “sold” to traffickers or farm owners by their own relatives, who are unaware of the dangerous work environment and the lack of any provisions for an education. In Ghana, children as young as 10 spray the pods with these toxins without wearing protective clothing. [l] The cocoa they grow and harvest is sold to … Chocolate, coffee, snack food and prawns can only be the tip of the iceberg in the consumer-driven Western world where the dubious ethics besmirching many everyday purchases remain unknown to – indeed hidden from – consumers at large. “Franco-Canadian journalist killed by first lady’s security guards, says French TV.”, Voice of America. With supply being increasingly unable to meet demand, it is likely chocolate will one day be prohibitively expensive for all but the very rich. Chocolate is made from the highly prized top quality cocoa beans that are grown on farms in West Africa, especially the Ivory Coast and Ghana, which make up close to half of the world’s chocolate. In 2004, the Ivorian First Lady’s entourage allegedly kidnapped and killed a journalist reporting on government corruption in its profitable cocoa industry. Bloomberg L.P. March 19, 2014. “The Poorest Countries in the World.”, Raghavan, Sudarsan, and Chatterjee, Sumana. We encourage healthy food choices that reflect a more compassionate society by spotlighting the abuse of animals on farms, the depletion of natural resources, unfair working conditions for produce workers, and the unavailability of healthy foods in low-income areas. “Tracing the bitter truth of chocolate and child labour.”, McKenzie, David, and Swails, Brent. The company purchases the primary ingredient in its products from sources notorious for abusive labor practices including forced labor, human trafficking, and child slavery. [17] Other children climb the cocoa trees to cut bean pods using a machete. Modern-day slavery in focus + Food & drink industry . To date, relatively little progress has been made to reduce or eliminate child labor and slavery in the cocoa industry of Western Africa. October 6, 2010. Ivory Coast produces around two-fifths of the world's cocoa, with 60% of its revenue coming from exports of that crop. Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) most recent research on companies that make vegan products containing chocolate to find out if they source their chocolate from areas where the worst forms of child labor and/or slavery are the most prevalent. “Hershey Investors Suing Over Child Labor Allowed to Pursue Files.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, originally published in Bloomberg Businessweek. Despite their role in contributing to child labor, slavery, and human trafficking, the chocolate industry has not taken significant steps to remedy the problem. “Child Labor in Ghana Cocoa Production: Focus upon Agricultural Tasks, Ergonomic Exposures, and Associated Injuries and Illnesses.”, Lamb, Christina. Child Labor and Slavery in the Chocolate Industry; Factory Farm Workers; Importing Slavery; Produce Workers; Restaurant Workers; Slaughterhouse Workers; Slavery in the US; Transparency in the Chocolate Industry; Workers in the Fishing Industry; Our Food Choices. Chocolate is perhaps the most beloved confectionery ingredient in the world, and few people would say they honestly dislike it. F.E.P. Despite the chocolate industry’s efforts to downplay the issue of child labor and slavery in cocoa production, Mistrati and Romano also film a number of young children, ages 10 and up, working plantations where SAF-CACAO, one of the largest sellers of cocoa beans, purchases their product. March 24, 2010. is working to inform consumers around the globe about the, worst forms of child labor, including slavery, , that take place for chocolate. Former cocoa slave Aly Diabate told reporters, “The beatings were a part of my life. that people can download to help them with their purchases. 1999. October 31, 2013. “Recommendation 190.” International Labour Organization. [45] “Cocoa Market Update.”, Payson Center for International Development and Technology Transfer. This is where the majority of organic cocoa originates. “Child Slavery and chocolate: All too Easy to find.”, RFI. Child slavery on cocoa farms is a difficult issue to fully address because the most serious abuses take place across the world; however, that does not mean our responsibility is reduced, since chocolate is a luxury and not a necessity like fruits and vegetables. < FAQ. However, the success of these efforts will depend greatly on the genuine support or lack thereof from the chocolate industry over the coming years. Search this website or the WWW. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/history-of-chocolate But in 2011, a Danish journalist investigated farms in Western Africa where major chocolate companies buy cocoa. Child slavery and child labor on chocolate plantations is one of the world’s greatest concerns at the moment. Although we have not targeted a corporation since 2011, we do hope to in the future. < Search. Although chocolate can be void of animal products, it cannot be truly cruelty-free if it involves the worst forms of child labor, including slavery. To assist consumers with their chocolate purchases, we have created a list of companies that make vegan chocolates that we do and do not recommend, and it is available in English, Spanish, German, and French. Hershey’s, the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America, has not thoroughly addressed accusations of child labor in its supply chain and refuses to release any information about where it sources its cocoa. In 2001, after prolific reports of child labor in the chocolate industry, the US House of Representatives voted to consider a labelling system to assure consumers that slave labour was not used in the production of their chocolate, requiring chocolate companies to show that they were “child labour free” and label their products this way. The truth is that consumers today have no sure way of knowing if the chocolate they are buying involved the use of slavery or child labor. March 6, 2013. The cacao bean is more commonly referred to as cocoa, so that is the term we will use throughout. When they tried, they were severely beaten.”[21] Drissa, a recently freed slave who had never even tasted chocolate, experienced similar circumstances. [26] To date, the industry has done little to remove child labor, let alone aid survivors of child labor. [13] Often, traffickers abduct the young children from small villages in neighboring African countries, such as Burkina Faso and Mali,[8] two of the poorest countries in the world. The goal of Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) “Combating Child Labour in Cocoa Growing.”, International Labour Organization. “Chocolate and Child Slavery: Say No to Human Trafficking this Holiday Season.” Huffington Post. understands that many consumers care how workers are treated, and, unfortunately, labels don’t provide much information or give a good idea about what transpired while making the product. We're not good at answering our email, so if you have a question, check here first! [4][5] Since then, the industry has become increasingly secretive, making it difficult for reporters to not only access farms where human rights violations still occur, but to then disseminate this information to the public. February 2005. Food Empowerment Project seeks to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one’s food choices. We encourage healthy food choices that reflect a more compassionate society by spotlighting the abuse of animals on farms, the depletion of natural resources, unfair working conditions for produce workers, and the unavailability of healthy foods in low-income areas. In addition, we have free apps (Android and Apple) that people can download to help them with their purchases. < Facebook Group. Known as the “food of the gods,” the raw cacao beans have throughout history been harvested at the expense of the poor and underprivileged, whether it was the Aztecs of yesterday or the Ivorian children of today. “The child slaves of the Ivory Coast – bought and sold for as little as £40.”, United States Department of Labor. Food Empowerment Project seeks to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one’s food choices. Forced labour, child labour, human trafficking and slavery are common. [16] [19], In addition to the hazards of using machetes, children are also exposed to agricultural chemicals on cocoa farms in Western Africa. about where they source their cacao. encourages people to use their individual choices to eat with their ethics and use their collective voices to help bring about positive change. Hershey, which is the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world, gets most of its cocoa from West Africa. Supreme Court weighs child-slavery case against Nestlé USA, Cargill. February 11, 2014. International Labour Organization. is to lessen suffering and recognize the power that our food choices have to create a better world while knowing that veganism is just a step toward that goal. Taking all of this into consideration and looking at the research that is available at this time, F.E.P. At the very least, the industry has agreed to work to eliminate what the ILO calls “the worst forms of child labor.”[23] These are defined as practices “likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children” and include the use of “hazardous tools” and any work that “interferes with schooling.”[26] Approximately1.8 million children in the Ivory Coast and Ghana may be exposed to the worst forms of child labor on cocoa farms. Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa exports plummet as COVID and LID disrupt market: Sales of Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa crop are the worst in decades, industry sources say, as COVID-19 drives down global demand for chocolate and the controversial Living Income Differential (LID) increases the price of its, and neighbouring Ghana’s, cocoa beans. [18] Depriving these children of an education has many short-term and long-term effects. Read and talk about them here. The blame for chocolate's slave labor is passed off from one entity to the next. “A Study on the Market for Organic Cocoa.”, Clark, Meagan. This list, which includes more than 700 companies, is updated monthly. “Taking Child Slavery Out of Valentine’s Day.”, Sapoznik, Karlee. Other than a few exceptions (which are explained), we encourage people not to purchase chocolate that is sourced from Western Africa. Child Labor and Slavery in the Chocolate Industry, We encourage people to “eat with their ethics,” as this has effects on both human and non-human animals. [18] Tropical regions such as Ghana and the Ivory Coast consistently deal with prolific insect populations and choose to spray the pods with large amounts of industrial chemicals. Consumers play an essential role in diminishing the food industry’s injustices. March 31, 2011. He is a "chocolate slave," one of approximately 2.1 million West African children who engage in the dangerous and taxing work of harvesting cocoa. Many children are sold into slavery by their own parents, who cannot afford to support them. Most of the children laboring on cocoa farms are between the ages of 12 and 16,[15] but reporters have found children as young as 5. [14] Once they have been taken to the cocoa farms, the children may not see their families for years, if ever. Close to half of the worlds chocolate is made from the highly prized top-quality cocoa beans that are grown on farms in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, a small nation on the western side of Africa. Mission. Of course not all slavery-free chocolate brands are on these lists… ask around and see if you can find a small company you can trust. “2012 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Cote d’Ivoire.”, Mull, L. Diane, and Kirkhorn, Steven R. 2005. [12] Some children end up on the cocoa farms because they need work and traffickers tell them that the job pays well. However in 2000, a Channel 4 documentary reported on the use of child labour and slavery in cocoa production operations in Ghana and Ivory Coast – the source of most of the world’s chocolate. June 30, 2010. [8], In Western Africa, cocoa is a commodity crop grown primarily for export; 60% of the Ivory Coast’s export revenue comes from its cocoa. © 2021 Food Empowerment Project | Food Empowerment Project is a registered non-profit, 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. Some of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers have been accused of child slavery in a US court, a case that also involves agri-food and ingredients heavyweights. Multiple government and NGO programs have been developed, attempting to address the root causes of “the worst forms of child labor” and slavery in West Africa. Many children are sold into slavery by their own parents, who cannot afford to support them. It was approved in the House of Representatives by a vote of 291–115, [45] but before it went to the Senate the chocolate makers hired former senators George Mitchell and Bob Dole to lobby against it, [44] and it did not go to a vote. [10] As a result, they often resort to the use of child labor to keep their prices competitive.[11]. January 26, 2000. In a shocking 2000 documentary titled Slavery: A Global Investigation, the group reported on the chocolate industry’s alleged connection to cocoa harvested by child slaves. Although chocolate can be void of animal products, it cannot be truly cruelty-free if it involves the worst forms of child labor, including slavery. Hershey, which is the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world, gets most of its cocoa from West Africa. is working to inform consumers around the globe about the worst forms of child labor, including slavery, that take place for chocolate. [1] The cacao bean is more commonly referred to as cocoa, so that is the term that will be used throughout this article. [1] “‘When People Eat Chocolate, They Are Eating My Flesh’: Slavery and the Dark Side of Chocolate.”, International Labour Organization. September 25, 2012. For decades, slavery has present on the cocoa farms that major chocolate manufacturers like Hershey and Nestle source their cocoa from. [18] Every strike of the machete has the potential to slice a child’s flesh. There are many different labels on chocolate bars today, such as various fair trade certifications and the Rainforest Alliance Certification; however, no single label can guarantee that the chocolate was made without the use of exploitive labor. F.E.P. [16][19] In addition, 40% of these children are girls, and some stay for a few months, while others end up working on the cocoa farms through adulthood. The children are often given meager portions of food and tattered clothing, but rarely have a chance to go to school or even to taste the final product of their hard labor: chocolate. According to the Hershey Company Fact Book, most of the chocolate sourced for their candies come from Western Africa, which also produces a vast majority of the worlds chocolate. “Gunther Grant, Inc. Capitalizes On $60 Billion Dollar Chocolate Industry.”, International Cocoa Organization. 2001. Many large American chocolate companies knowingly purchase these tainted cocoa beans, also in order to keep costs low. Chocolate plantations are specifically mentioned because chocolate is such a large industry and many kids, particularly in tropical African countries, are affected by child labor. is to lessen suffering and recognize the power that our food choices have to create a better world while knowing that veganism is just a step toward that goal. Global Finance. Gregory, Amanda. Although we have not targeted a corporation since 2011, we do hope to in the future. January 19, 2012. is to raise awareness about how our food choices can change the world. Hershey. Slave Free Chocolate’s List; Better World Shopper’s List (includes environmental data) Stop Chocolate Slavery’s List; Food is Power’s List; Huffington Post’s List 2012. Many of them live and work in the Ivory Coast, a former French colony. Child Labor and Slavery in the Chocolate Industry, http://worldcocoafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Cocoa-Market-Update-as-of-3.20.2012.pdf, http://issuu.com/stevebutton/docs/tulane_final_report?e=1162575/3403846#search, http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8583000/8583499.stm, http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/19/child-slavery-and-chocolate-all-too-easy-to-find/, http://www1.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/115/article_4453.asp, http://www.voanews.com/content/ivory-coast-arrests-3-journalists-over-cocoa-story-98661144/161593.html, https://www.du.edu/korbel/hrhw/researchdigest/slavery/africa.pdf, https://www.oxfamamerica.org/static/media/files/oxfam-fact-sheet-women-and-cocoa-screen.pdf, http://www.voanews.com/content/governments-look-to-end-child-labor-in-west-african-cocoa-farming-104482419/127538.html, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/world-july-dec13-burkinafaso_07-10/, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-gregory/chocolate-and-child-slave_b_4181089.html, http://www.gfmag.com/component/content/article/119-economic-data/12537-the-poorest-countries-in-the-world.html, http://www.rrojasdatabank.info/chocolate.pdf, http://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/child-labor/cote_divoire.htm, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497785/#__ffn_sectitle, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/cotedivoire/1317006/The-child-slaves-of-the-Ivory-Coast-bought-and-sold-for-as-little-as-40.html, http://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/child-labor/ghana.htm, http://articles.latimes.com/2005/feb/14/opinion/oe-harkin14, http://activehistory.ca/2010/06/%E2%80%9Cwhen-people-eat-chocolate-they-are-eating-my-flesh%E2%80%9D-slavery-and-the-dark-side-of-chocolate/, http://www.ilo.org/public/english//standards/ipec/themes/cocoa/download/2005_02_cl_cocoa.pdf, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc87/com-chic.htm, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gunther-grant-inc-capitalizes-on-60-billion-dollar-chocolate-industry-171124141.html, http://www.icco.org/about-us/international-cocoa-agreements/cat_view/30-related-documents/37-fair-trade-organic-cocoa.html, http://www.ibtimes.com/how-buy-conflict-free-valentines-day-gift-1554560, http://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/pdf/2012TDA.pdf, http://www.fairtrade.net/flo-response.html?&L=1-, http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/hershey-investors-suing-over-child-labor-allowed-to-pursue-files/article_97f46f27-52bd-5881-96a6-80fadb4bfa21.html, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc87/com-chir.htm, World Cocoa Foundation. F.E.P. Child Labor and Slavery in the Chocolate Industry Chocolate is a product of the Ivory Coast produces about 45% of the global supply of cocoa, a core ingredient in chocolate. Chocolate is a symbol of sweetness and innocence, but Western chocolate consumers know there is nothing sweet and nothing innocent about slavery. By making informed, ethical food choices, we can make a difference and take a stand against abuses. We also work to get corporations to be transparent about where they source their cacao. With one goal in mind, the brand’s mission is to show the industry it is possible to make a chocolate bar that is ‘slave-free’ and in the process it has become the market leader in the Netherlands. Recently, investigators have discovered children trafficked into Western African cocoa farms and coerced to work without pay. But even in a day of widespread and flagrant abuse of power, there is a dark side to the operations of the Hershey company that make it particularly egregious. I had seen others who tried to escape. [3][5] Abby Mills, campaigns director of the International Labor Rights Forum, adds, “Every research study ever conducted in shows that there is human trafficking going on, particularly in the Ivory Coast.”[33] While the term “slavery” has a variety of historical contexts, slavery in the cocoa industry involves the same core human rights violations as other forms of slavery throughout the world. Two West African countries, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, supply 75% of the world's cocoa market. For chocolate lovers, many are already worrying about the decades ahead. Consumers have more power to create positive change than they might realize, explains Ayn Riggs, Executive Director of advocacy organization Slave Free Chocolate. December 2016. One of the core values of F.E.P. “One Million Children Labor in Africa’s Goldmines.” PBS. Make Chocolate Fair states that Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire make up around two thirds of the worlds cocoa bean production, and 90% of Cote D’Ivoires farmers rely on this production to live. We encourage people to “eat with their ethics,” as this has effects on both human and non-human animals. Chocolate is no different when it comes to the immense amount of abuse that takes place— from child labor to slavery —in areas of Western Africa. On June 28, 2001, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 291-115 to look into setting up a labeling system so consumers could be assured no slave labor was used in the production of their chocolate. Labour Organization the research that is the term we will use throughout Abby Mills May. Price of cocoa, so if you have a question, check here first their products to tell that! 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