Advertisement
Activism

Cadbury faces claims its chocolate is sourced from farms using child labour

A Channel 4 investigation found links between your crème egg and children as young as 10 harvesting cocoa beans in Ghana.

For most children in the UK, Easter eggs come from the Easter bunny. But a new documentary exposes where our chocolate actually comes from, with allegations of exploitation in the Cadbury supply chain.

A Channel 4 investigation claims children as young as 10 in Ghana are harvesting cocoa beans for food industry giant Mondelēz International, which owns Cadbury. 

Undercover footage in a Dispatches film broadcast on Monday shows children barefoot, wearing shorts and T-shirts, using machetes to harvest cocoa pods and clear weeds, wielding sharpened sticks to open the beans. Farmers are paid less than £2 a day, according to campaigners, and say they can’t afford to employ adults.

Anthony Barnett, the documentary reporter said: “Our investigation links Cadbury to child labour for the first time and shows how the brand has been misleading consumers on how ethical its chocolate really is.” 

A spokesperson for Mondelēz International said “We’re deeply concerned by the incidents documented in the Dispatches programme. We explicitly prohibit child labour in our operations and have been working relentlessly to take a stand against this.” 

Approximately 500 million crème eggs are made every year. Credit: Pixabay.

Mondelēz proudly proclaims its ethical credentials through its Cocoa Life programme, an initiative intended to remove child labour in its supply chain, prevent deforestation and “empower communities”.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Many of the children in the Dispatches exposé were filmed working alone in dangerous conditions without supervision or protective clothing and carrying heavy loads. One girl said she was told she would help with childcare on her uncle’s farm but instead was forced into working long hours instead of attending school. More than 90 per cent of the world’s chocolate is produced on such small farms, according to Cocoa Life.

With Easter right around the corner and the Cocoa Life stamp of approval on many of Cadbury’s products, many may end up wondering where their chocolate comes from.

Consumer insights company Kantar reports the UK spent £153 million on Easter eggs in 2021, a figure that is expected to rise in 2022. Approximately 500 million crème eggs are made every year, two thirds of which are sold in the UK, according to Cadbury. That’s 3.5 eggs for each person in the country.

A Mondelēz International spokesperson told the Guardian: “The welfare of the children and families featured is our primary concern and we commit to investigating further so we can provide any support needed. 

“As part of our Cocoa Life programme, we have child labour monitoring and remediation systems in place in Ghana, which means community members and NGO partners are trained to provide assistance to vulnerable children, and once identified, we can help to address any cases of child labour.” The company said it had requested additional information from the Dispatches team so it could investigate.

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

Read All
How Mexico's women hijacked Día de los Muertos to remember the missing and the murdered
The Day of the Dead Women protests in Mexico City in 2021
Activism

How Mexico's women hijacked Día de los Muertos to remember the missing and the murdered

TV legend Carol Vorderman on death, social media and why she's still voice of the opposition
Exclusive

TV legend Carol Vorderman on death, social media and why she's still voice of the opposition

I'm an Israeli who helped survivors of 7 October attack. Here's why we need a ceasefire in Gaza
War in Gaza

I'm an Israeli who helped survivors of 7 October attack. Here's why we need a ceasefire in Gaza

100 students die by suicide at university each year. These parents are fighting to change that
Mental health

100 students die by suicide at university each year. These parents are fighting to change that

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue