Chocolate?

         Did you know, that for the Halloween season, over 90 million pounds of chocolate were sold? (Halloween statistic)  That’s only Halloween! This statistic doesn’t even include all the other holidays throughout the year and around the world.  That is a large portion of cocoa beans picked by the hands of children younger than us.  Most of these beans are not located in factories or in the U.S., but actually in West Africa, inside jungles. Most kids there don’t go to school, instead they are used for child labor, they are trafficked, and forced to harvest these coco beans all day for little to no pay.   Chocolate and modern day slavery go hand in hand.

         Most of Hershey’s chocolate production begins in West Africa.  According to Not For Sale Campaign, Hershey’s has an F, on an A- F grading scale, for Fair Trade Certified cocoa.  Meaning that almost none of their cocoa is labored in clean and safe environmental places.  Being one of the largest producers of chocolate in the United States gives this company a platform for community service and national children programs.  But there is a darker side to the Hershey Company.  They fail to be transparent in revealing all of their sources of cocoa.  How can a wealthy American company that appears so good, have human trafficking as a labor source for their cocoa?  Many cocoa farms in Africa can’t afford to pay adults who are protected by fair labor laws.  Therefore, these farmers resort to the cheapest labor they can find, children.

         I think that Hershey’s should stop being so selfish about money and pay adults to do the work these children do, so these children will stop hurting themselves with their large machetes.  Or even like the article says, Hershey’s should find out for themselves where their cocoa comes from and change it where that cocoa can be certified.  It’s the 21^st century!  There shouldn’t be slavery still!  Stop being so stupid and certify the cocoa.  Also Hershey’s says they support children, so why don’t they support the ones that are suffering and not knowing if they will live another second.  Support those that bring you production.

         For no reason should Chocolate and modern day slavery go hand in hand.  It doesn’t seem right.  I believe that Hershey needs to get their act together and do what is right.