The average American eats 11 pounds of chocolate each year, but do you know where your chocolate comes from?
The Ivory Coast in West Africa supplies most of the worlds cocoa beans, 43 percent of the world's supply. Many of the workers on these farms are bought from parent or just taken. Parents sell their children from countries like Togo, Mali and Burkina Faso, because they are too poor to provide. They hope their children will find honest work. These children, usually 11-16 are forced to work up to 100 hours a week, with no pay and no education. Congress has tried to prevent this by producing a labeling system, like "Child Labor Free", but now companies are no required to label. Companies like Hersheys and Nestle are involved in the child labor, making millions while kids suffer.
Although buying chocolate that is "Fair Trade", or not made from slaves not making any money is more expensive, it is worth it.
The Ivory Coast in West Africa supplies most of the worlds cocoa beans, 43 percent of the world's supply. Many of the workers on these farms are bought from parent or just taken. Parents sell their children from countries like Togo, Mali and Burkina Faso, because they are too poor to provide. They hope their children will find honest work. These children, usually 11-16 are forced to work up to 100 hours a week, with no pay and no education. Congress has tried to prevent this by producing a labeling system, like "Child Labor Free", but now companies are no required to label. Companies like Hersheys and Nestle are involved in the child labor, making millions while kids suffer.
Although buying chocolate that is "Fair Trade", or not made from slaves not making any money is more expensive, it is worth it.