Halloween is coming! If you want to be a good global citizen, make sure that the chocolate you buy is labeled “fair trade”. Most of the major chocolate companies ** use unpaid and underpaid child laborers who are prevented from attending school. In addition, the cocoa industry has a huge negative impact on forests. In the Ivory Coast and Ghana, 90% of their forests have been lost and the cocoa industry is a big driver of that deforestation.

Fair Trade exists to make trade more equitable, ensuring that farmers, workers, and producers are paid fairly, work in safe conditions, and can invest in their communities and futures. It transforms everyday purchases into lasting impact by supporting ethical trade, protecting the environment, and funding community-led development. By shifting even a portion of your chocolate purchases to Fair Trade Certified options, you’re helping to transform the industry. Your choice sends a clear message to retailers and producers that ethical practices matter.

You can find ethically sourced chocolate locally at Wegmans, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s.

As Johanna Woodchild says: “It will taste sweeter in your mouth!”

** Mars/Nestle/Hershey/Mondelez (Chips Ahoy!, Oreo, Nabisco, Sour Patch Kids, Toblerone, Dentyne, Halls, Tang, Cadbury)/ Godiva/Ferrero (Baby Ruth, Crunch Bar, and Butterfinger, Kinder Surprise eggs, Tic Tac mints)/ and Lindt. For more details, go to https://247wallst.com/special-report/2024/02/02/8-chocolate-brands-to-avoid/