Check out Chris Wheal’s take on Nestlé’s decision to use fairtrade cocoa for a small part of its Kit Kat production.
UK’s Kit Kat to go Fairtrade
Nestlé, the global food giant, announced that, starting in 2010, its Kit Kat bar in the UK will be made with fairtrade chocolate. In doing so, Nestlé is following the example set by Cadbury earlier this year. According to the BBC, Nestlé sells about 1 billion Kit Kats a year in the UK. The beneficiaries of this move will be the cocoa farmers in the Côte d’Ivoire who stand to receive hundreds of thousands pounds as a result of the decision as estimated by Harriet Lamb of the UK’s Fairtrade Foundation.
Kraft Likes Deal with Rainforest Alliance
Kraft, the global food giant, likes the deal it struck with the Rainforest Alliance. So much so, it expanded its commitment to purchase RA certified cocoa from 3,000 to 30,000 by 2012. It’s the first major food giant in Europe to carry the RA seal. That’s still a drop in the bucket given the amount of cocoa it buys but, hey, it’s something. So look for Côte d’Or chocolate with the RA label. Still no fairtrade commitment, though. It seems U.S. based corporations have a really difficulty time with fairtrade. So far, Cadbury stands alone with its fairtrade commitment in Europe. Let’s hope that Kraft’s attempt to buy Cadbury won’t pan out.
Continue reading “Kraft Likes Deal with Rainforest Alliance”
Get Ready for Reverse Trick-or-Treating
Global Exchange, the International Labor Rights Fund, Equal Exchange, Alter Eco, Sweet Earth, La Siembra, Cocoa Zen and a host of other organizations are getting ready for the third annal reverse trick-or-treat campaign.
The Reverse Trick-or-Treat campaign aims to educate consumers about poverty and child labor in the cocoa sector. In a sweet reversal of roles, participating children will hand the adults who open their doors a piece of dark chocolate and a card explaining the working conditions on many cocoa farms.
If your kids want to participate, contact Global Exchange for a kit. Kits are free but cost $5.50 shipping and handling.The deadline for individuals is Oct. 13. Organizations should get their orders in by Oct. 1.
If you want to give out fairtrade chocolate to children coming to your doors, you can stock up at many stores and online locations. Check any of the companies mentioned above.
Cadbury Expands Fairtrade Commitment
According to Tim Newman’s blog entry at the International Labor Rights Forum, Cadbury has announced that it expand its sourcing of fairtrade cocoa beans. By 2010, all Dairy Milk bars sold in Canada, New Zealand and Australia will be fairtrade certified. That’s great news and a further sign of Cadbury’s commitment to improve the lives of cocoa farmers. I only wish that U.S. chocolate corporations would pledge the same instead of dodging the question.
This decision comes on the heals of its decision to discontinue the use of vegetable oil as a substitute for cocoa butter in Australia and New Zealand. Using cocoa butter not only makes the chocolate taste better, it also increased the amount of cocoa bought to make a bar. Cadbury is obviously on the right track. Maybe the current corporate leadership has discovered some of the company’s Quaker heritage.
