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Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies. They are not a comment on the product itself.
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Chocolate

The Guide > Food & Drink > Confectionery > Chocolate 

    Industry Alert: Child labour, pesticides, palm oil

Child Labour

Since 2000, the chocolate industry has been under scrutiny for using cocoa beans from West Africa (especially Cote d'Ivoire) where there are estimated to be over 284,000 child labourers working in slave conditions on cocoa farms (Source: International Labor Organisation, part of the UN). These children, mostly under 14, are involved in dangerous work, including spraying pesticides, using machetes and carrying heavy loads. They have no access to education or health care. Physical abuse is also common.
  • Look for products with the certified Fairtrade symbol.  [Fairtrade ANZ]
  • See how major chocolate companies compare.  [Be Slavery Free]
  • Find Fairtrade, UTZ or Rainforest Alliance certified chocolate.  [Chocolate Scorecard]

Cash crops

About 70 percent of the world's cocoa is grown in West Africa. Small family plots are the main producers. The average cocoa farm produces one or two tonnes of cocoa beans a year; one tonne is 16 sacks of cocoa. The average farmer makes between $1,400-$2,000 profit a year, at most about $5 a day, which will need to support 6-10 dependants. The present price is about $2.20 per kilo of cocoa beans.   [Trading Visions]

Pesticides

Many of the pesticides used in cocoa production have been banned in the US, EU and here in Australia. These include Methyl Bromide, Pyrethrins, Glyphosate and Lindane.
  • Choose organic chocolate.

Palm Oil

Palm oil is found in roughly 50 per cent of all packaged products on supermarket shelves including shampoos, baking oil, chocolate, cosmetics, chips, cookies, margarine and soaps.

Unfortunately, not only does palm oil promote heart disease, but the vast plantations that grow oil palm trees have contributed to the destruction of the rainforest of South East Asia and threaten the survival of animals such as the Orangutan in Borneo, the Sumatran tiger, and Asian rhinoceros. Additionally, burning after deforestation accounts for significant greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, it has recently been deemed a potential saviour as a renewable resource for use as a biofuel.
  • Palm oil may be in a product but labelled simply as 'vegetable oil'. An indicator however is if the nutritional panel lists saturated fat and it's higher than 50%, and yet there no animal fat listed as an ingredient, there is likely to be palm kernel oil, palm oil or coconut oil, as a component of 'vegetable oil' (most likely to be palm). See the various names for palm oil  [Palm Oil Investigations]
  • For a list of branded products that do not contain palm oil, see the 'Helping you buy responsibly' section on the Borneo Orangutan Survival website.  [Borneo Orangutan Survival]
  • Check out the Issues section of our website for more about palm oil  [ethical.org.au/issues]

Caffeine

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. It is highly addictive and causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms (headaches being the most common) if you stop drinking it suddenly. Most people get their caffeine fixes from coffee and tea, but it is also present in cola drinks, energy drinks and chocolate (the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine it contains). Caffeine is a strong diuretic and can cause insomnia, tremors and reduced fertility in men. It's bad news for pregnant women too.   [more]
  • Typical caffeine quantities: Red Bull (250ml can) - 80mg; Mother (500ml can) - 160mg; Coca-Cola can - 40mg; Coffee - 80-100mg typically; Tea - about half that of coffee (varies greatly); A chocolate bar - up to 10mg
  • Find out how much caffeine you consume each day using Choice's Caffeine calculator.  [Caffeine calculator]

Alternatives beyond the mainstream

Spencer Cocoa  [more info]
Features: Cocoa sourced directly from grower
Single origin chocolate grown in Vanuatu and made in a tiny factory in Mudgee, NSW. Cocoa is sourced directly from 2-3 families in Vanuatu.
Manufacturer: Spencer Cocoa
About these listings
Find farmers' markets, food coops, farm gate products at Local Harvest
BRAND COMPANY OWNED RATING
Haigh's some products UTZ Certified some products UTZ Certified Haigh's Chocolates   Australian Owned  Praises, no criticism1
Organic Mylk Chocolate certified organic certified organic Murray River Organics   Australian Owned  Praises, no criticism1
Alter Eco certified fairtrade certified organic certified fairtrade certified organic Alter Eco Pacific   (NextWorld Evergreen) USA  Praises, no criticism1
Chocolatier some products certified Fairtrade some products certified Fairtrade Chocolatier Australia   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Diamond Creek  Chocolatier Australia   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Darrell Lea  Darrell Lea   (Quadrant Private Equity) Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Heritage Fine Chocolates  Darrell Lea   (Quadrant Private Equity) Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Loving Earth certified organic certified organic Loving Earth   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Polly Waffle  Menz Confectionery   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Violet Crumble  Menz Confectionery   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Pana Organic certified organic certified organic Pana Organic   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Well Naturally  RiteBite Group   (Quadrant Private Equity) Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Pico certified organic certified fairtrade certified organic certified fairtrade Soulfresh   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Sweet William  Sweet William   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Dark Ghana  Whittakers   NZL  Some praise, no criticism2
Peanut Slab  Whittakers   NZL  Some praise, no criticism2
Whittakers some products certified Fairtrade some products certified Fairtrade Whittakers   NZL  Some praise, no criticism2
Gran's  Dynamic Brands Group   Australian Owned  No rating3
Ballantyne  Fyna Foods   Australian Owned  No rating3
Pink Lady  Fyna Foods   Australian Owned  No rating3
Koko Black  Koko Black   Australian Owned  No rating3
Cocolo certified organic certified fairtrade certified organic certified fairtrade Organic Trader   Australian Owned  No rating3
Patons  Patons Macadamia   Australian Owned  No rating3
Yowie  Yowie Group   Australian Owned  No rating3
Hillier's  Ernest Hillier   (Hilco) USA  No rating3
Vivani certified organic certified organic Weinrich Schokolade  
Importer/distributor: Fresh Food Enterprises  
GER  No rating3
Choceur UTZ certified UTZ certified Aldi Australia   (Aldi South) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Dairy Fine UTZ certified UTZ certified Aldi Australia   (Aldi South) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Moser Roth certified Fairtrade certified Fairtrade Aldi Australia   (Aldi South) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Bounty  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Celebrations  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Dove  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
M&Ms  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Maltesers  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Mars Rainforest Alliance certified Rainforest Alliance certified Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Milky Way  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Minstrels  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Mondo  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Pods  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Snickers  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Teasers  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Twix  Mars Australia   (Mars) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Bueno  Ferrero Australia   (Ferrero) ITA  Criticism, some praise5
Ferrero Rocher  Ferrero Australia   (Ferrero) ITA  Criticism, some praise5
Kinder  Ferrero Australia   (Ferrero) ITA  Criticism, some praise5
Raffaello  Ferrero Australia   (Ferrero) ITA  Criticism, some praise5
Godiva  Godiva Asia Pacific   (MBK Partners) KOR  Criticism, some praise5
Dagoba certified organic certified organic Dagoba Chocolate   (Hershey Trust)
Importer/distributor: Fresh Food Enterprises  
USA  Criticisms6
Guylian  Guylian   (Lotte Group)
Distribution & Marketing: Stuart Alexander  
KOR  Criticisms6
Hershey's  Hershey   (Hershey Trust) USA  Criticisms6
Milk Duds  Hershey   (Hershey Trust) USA  Criticisms6
Reese's  Hershey   (Hershey Trust)
Distribution & Marketing: Stuart Alexander  
USA  Criticisms6
Lindor  Lindt & Sprungli Australia   (Lindt & Sprungli) SWI  Criticisms6
Lindt  Lindt & Sprungli Australia   (Lindt & Sprungli) SWI  Criticisms6
Boost  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Bubbly  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Cadbury  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Cadbury Dairy Milk  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Caramello Koala  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Cherry Ripe  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Chomp  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Coco  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Cote d'Or  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Crunchie  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Dream  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Favourites  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Flake  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Freddo  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Fry's Turkish Delight  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Green and Black's certified organic some products certified Fairtrade certified organic some products certified Fairtrade Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Marvelous Creations  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Milk Tray  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Milka  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Old Gold  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Picnic  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Red Tulip  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Roses  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Terri's  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Time Out  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Toblerone  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Twirl  Mondelez Australia   (Mondelez) USA  Criticisms6
Aero UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Baci UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Chokito UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Club UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Crunch UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Golden Rough UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Kit Kat UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Milky Bar UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Mint Pattie UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Mint Slice UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Nestle UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Plaistowe UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Rolo UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Smarties UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Wonka UTZ Certified UTZ Certified Nestle Australia   (Nestle) SWI  Criticisms6
Whitman's  Russell Stover   (Lindt & Sprungli) SWI  Criticisms6
Ovaltines  Twinings & Co   (Garfield Weston Foundation) UK  Criticisms6



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