Everybody's favorite chocolate bar is in for a treat as their companies is currently making the headlines. As per Refinery 21, lawsuits were filed against major candy companies namely The Hershey Company, Mars Inc., and Nestle.
The lawsuit claims that the companies source of coca beans from the suppliers in the Ivory Coast used child laborers ; some of which are trafficked and were forced to work. The lawsuit was filed by the law firm of Hagens Berman Sobol Sharpio.
"America's largest and most profitable food conglomerates should not tolerate child labor, much less child slave labor, anywhere in their supply chains, these companies should not turn a blind eye to known human rights abuses... especially when the companies consistently and affirmatively represent that they act in a socially and ethically responsible manner."
An award winning film maker, Miki Mistrati released a movie documentary back in 2014 entitled Shady Chocolate which highlighted the child labor cases in chocolate companies.
"There is no doubt that a campaign about the reality in chocolate production will harm the chocolate companies, modern slavery with children is a part of the chocolate industry today. But I do not think that it can be the real game changer."
He then added:
"Consumers have not been critical enough; they have not asked why a chocolate bar only costs $1 when the cocoa comes from Africa. Customers have been too easy to trick with smart ads. It is over now. This trial is a unique opportunity for the world to see how their chocolate is produced and why it is so cheap."
This might just be an allegation as it has not yet been proven. As per the Daily Beast, the managing partner at Hagens Berman, Steve Berman made a confirmation that Nestle have launched the most doable program in fighting against child labor, but results were not yet visible.
"They claim they've been taking steps. They partner with the Fair Labor Association to investigate, and they claim they're committed to eradicating it, but the fact is the recent reports show the number of children in the cocoa industry has increased, we doubt that Nestle is taking this very seriously. The consumers reaching out to our firm have been outraged to learn that the candy they enjoy has a dark, bitter production cost-that child and slave labor have been a part of Nestle, Mars, and Hershey's chocolate processing, these companies fail to disclose their use of child and forced labor,
