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U.S. report: Much of the world’s chocolate supply relies on more than 1 million child workers
- Thread starter SilentPanda
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I'm happy that I don't like Chocolate, at the very least. I'll note down Nestle as one of the companies I'll try to avoid as much as possible from now on, however, in case there is other stuff from them I buy.
When people say companies are evil, I sometimes think they are exaggerating a little.
Nestle is Evil.
Nestle is Evil.
Nestle is truly one of the worst companies out there. And I wasn't even aware of their issues with chocolate.
Yep. It's been reported on many times. Some ethical chocolate farms have tried to eliminate child labor through increased wages, but that means their chocolate is more expensive. Thus buyers will get their supply from other, cheaper farms. Ideally, we'd treat chocolate like an expensive luxury. We need to realize the real cost of chocolate.
We can all buy local produce, at least in the countries were available, I do and while a bit more expensive the chocolate taste ten times better.
A person I used to work with who was with the red cross in Africa said the sad reality of those children is that nobody invest in them, so some were not even fed before working on those slave practices. We have to advocate to end child labor, but also at the same time provide education and food. One without the other is doomed from start.
A person I used to work with who was with the red cross in Africa said the sad reality of those children is that nobody invest in them, so some were not even fed before working on those slave practices. We have to advocate to end child labor, but also at the same time provide education and food. One without the other is doomed from start.
There are plenty of ethically sourced chocolates out there. It costs a lot more but it tastes better than what these big companies sell.
Just do a little research and you won't have to give it up.
You're telling me that the man who wanted to own all the water is also using child labour? God, I wish something would be done to entities like this that exploit the most vulnerable for their personal gain.
Thanks for the warning. I think I remember they also received some backslash a few years ago from the palm oil, right? I've never had a sweet tooth, so I never really payed much attention to them.
Was watching a video on how it works
The process seems to be
1. find/buy abandoned kids
2. train them to spray pesticides
3. train them to clear plants
4. train them to cut the cocoa
5. after 5-10 years they pay off their startup debt to their owners they can finally get paid . . . . in cocoa beans
The way the big chocolate makers get around the child labor restrictions
1. deny deny deny
2. armed gangs patrol the roads where the cocoa trucks pass to prevent any investigations
3. third parties buy the child labor cocoa and sell them to Nestle or Starbucks or whoever
4. all the government agencies are corrupt as fuck
It doesn't matter which company you buy from they are almost all buying child labor beans except for the smallest artisan choclatiers
Not just the children. In some areas that child labor might be the only money the family makes. In other areas the child has to work for free for some time before being able to move up to even getting paid. There's a lot that needs fixing.
Yep, Tony's Chocolonely is the GOAT of not horrifically expensive fair trade chocolate.
You should read what they did to promote formula usage in Africa.
Every Parent Should Know The Scandalous History Of Infant Formula
www.businessinsider.com
Saw a documentary on this a few years ago and it is sickening. The solution companies like nestle came up with was to just put in more middle men so that they can can claim that they "don't buy from companies exploiting child labor". Since they just have other companies do it for them.
Yeah, I caught that wording. "Oh, we fixed the worst bits... these kids are treated much better than before, by comparison."
Just so you're aware, it is incredibly hard to avoid Nestle. That have their hands in so many brands and products, and I guarantee you have a bunch of Nestle stuff in your home right now.
Not saying it's not worth trying, of course, but don't feel too bad when you inadvertently pick up some of their products later on.
Spoiled Neckbeards will still vote for EA when it comes down to the worst Company.
I was thinking of how they have been hoarding water. I hope you don't like water.
Oh, don't worry about it. The world is just how it is, so I won't feel that much guilt if something sleeps under my radar. But it's still worth it to do a conscious effort IMO.
I don't like bottled water, does that count?
Nestle isn't a terrible chocolate company, they're just a terrible company with terrible people.
All the major conglomerates do business in the exact same way, it's how they keep their bottom lines low. I suppose it's possible that Kraft Heinz are somehow the exception when it comes to chocolate sourcing, but I'm not going to put any money on that.
Yep. It's been reported on many times. Some ethical chocolate farms have tried to eliminate child labor through increased wages, but that means their chocolate is more expensive. Thus buyers will get their supply from other, cheaper farms. Ideally, we'd treat chocolate like an expensive luxury. We need to realize the real cost of chocolate.
That's the problem to almost every industry in which big companies rely on cheap labor from 3rd world country. I'm doing my best to buy local products as much as I can but my effort will never be enough to convince other to pay more for the same product. There is no obvious solution for this.
Does it? Do you drink water? Take workout supplements or vitamins? Wash your hair? Shower? Use sunblock? Wear contacts? Feed your pets?
Here is a list of some of the brands they own, many of which you will have no idea is them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nestlé_brands?wprov=sfla1
I literally just had a conversation with my wife yesterday about this: Tony's Chocolonely actively includes anti-slavery messaging as part of their advertising strategy, and we were genuinely wondering how much chocolate slavery must be happening for a brand to make calling it out part of their core values.
Then I see this thread.
Capitalism has perverse incentives that encourages accumulation by any means necessary.