Tags
Fair Trade Chocolate, Food, Halloween, Halloween Candy, Hershey's, International Human Rights, Mars Co, Nestle, Trick or Treating
If you grocery shop ever, or drink coffee even a little, or know a handful of people from the ago of about 25 and down, then you’ve probably heard about a little something called Fair Trade products, or about the little issue of human slave labor. These two topics are often strongly connected with the coffee bean production/market as well as clothing, but what has been slightly more unknown to the general American public is the great controversy that candy companies and chocolate makers are finding themselves in in recent times due to their chocolate being grown, harvested, and refined by ill-treated and under-paid farmers, families, children, and workers throughout many under-developed countries.
Two companies that have been at the fore-front of criticism and controversy in regards to chocolate are Hershey’s and Nestle, neither of which really seem to be making an effort to improve their business and humanitarian ethicality (yes, I’m aware I made that word up). But good news! Mars Co is! The purpose of this post is to draw your attention to the fact that Mars has partnered with the Fair Trade movement to encourage and support sustainable, healthy business to those who produce one of the most beloved foods in the world. So this Halloween, buy lots of M&Ms and Skittles, and maybe pass up on the Kisses. As consumers, we hold great, big sway over the great, big companies. Use your monetary voices!
Another great outlet in which you can support delicious Fair Trade is Divine Chocolate. Definitely more on the expensive side, but I’ve had it and it is definitely comparable to Dove. Which is actually owned by Mars. So if Divine will break the bank, don’t go into withdrawal because you have your options.
To read up more on the actions being taken in the great saga of the chocolate wars, go to www.laborrights.org and get your study on. And become a more conscious shopper and choco-fatty. Especially during Halloween, as it is a prime opportunity to teach the younger generations about modern justice and goodwill towards all humanity. Woah, it’s beginning to sound like Christmas up in here…