Have you ever wondered how your favorite chocolate bar was made? Or how there are so many different chocolate brands?
Many people believe chocolate was created in Europe, primarily due to Switzerland’s popular and high-quality chocolate. In reality, chocolate was invented during the ancient Mesoamerican period in Mexico. Chocolate is created from the cacao plant that is fermented, dried, roasted and then combined with milk to become the rich, delectable treat so many love.
With the widespread love for chocolate, the industry has faced a surge of demand. Companies compete to have the best and cheapest chocolate on the market, so producers look for methods that can produce enough to satisfy consumer demand. As a result, the leading cocoa farms in Brazil and West Africa use child slave labor to farm the cocoa beans. Ghana and the Ivory Coast are the two primary cacao producers, producing upwards of 70% of the world’s supply. Within those two countries, two million children are involved in cacao farming in poor conditions for only around $2.00 a day. The chocolate industry makes millions of dollars, especially around popular holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas.
Further, the process used to farm cocoa beans has contributed to deforestation in Africa. Chocolate farms have caused a loss of 37.4% of the Ivory Coast and 13.5% of Ghana’s rainforests, while the Chocolate trade has garnered an estimated $11 trillion in the last year. West Africa has had a record loss of its forests and has struggled to combat this problem because of the low economic gain it receives from being on the lower end of the chocolate supply chain. Cacao farmers receive less than 10% of the retail price of a chocolate bar, making the profit margin extremely low. At the same time, the chemicals used to farm expose the children and farmers to damaging levels of toxins. Children work on the farms with scars because of the cuts from using machetes, and the children are forced to carry 100 lb. bags of harvested nuts, posing an additional health risk.
Therefore, farming many popular chocolate brands comes at the expense of child labor and environmental harm.
The severity of these issues is recognized on the global stage. The U.N. has several sustainability goals, with the 15th goal being conserving life on land. Additionally, the United Nations has a World Day Against Child Labour dedicated to the eradication of child labor and raising awareness of the different forms of child exploitation across the world.
Yet, these issues are still highly prevalent when it comes to the booming chocolate industry. Around the world, 4.4 tons of chocolate was consumed in 2020, with 161 million pounds being sold in the U.S. alone weeks before Easter.
How can you contribute to buying sustainable and ethically farmed chocolate? Several websites list ethical and sustainable chocolate bars produced worldwide, and others include vegan and gluten-free options. But most importantly, spread awareness. It is essential to speak up for those without a voice. The children trafficked into these farms have no way of speaking out for their rights, so while we can continue to enjoy different versions of chocolate, it is crucial to raise awareness in the hopes of achieving a global difference.