With Easter being peak chocolate buying season, Kiama Baptist Church is shining a light on the dark side of chocolate and the problems that occur from not thinking before you buy.

The group have created a giant block of chocolate to draw attention to the exploitation happening in the chocolate industry.

“Cocoa farmers are only paid $2 a day which is less than the cost of one block of chocolate,” says Anne Giovass, Member of Kiama Catalyst at Kiama Baptist Church.

“On these farms, children as young as five work using toxic chemicals without protection and handle sharp tools like machetes for up to eight hours a day.”

Advocacy has been a key driver in prompting the big brands to improve their supply chain practices. The introduction of a chocolate certification process has improved the situation, but hasn’t solved all the problems as the certification does not address causes of child labour. There is a lack of monitoring and remediation where there needs to be transparency, traceability and a living income.

“While these children are working, they are deprived of an education that could lift them out of poverty,” says Anne.

“The poverty is driving this child labour and chocolate companies make a huge profit from the products. It would take as little as 14 cents extra cost per 100g of chocolate to change it.”

Consumers can encourage these better work ethics by buying chocolate with certification logos on them. These include Fairtrade, UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, Nestle Cocoa Plan, Mondelez International, Cocoa Life and the Lindt & Sprungli Farming Program.

You can also sign the online petition: www.freedomunited.org/advocate/chocolate-companies and use the chocolate score card before shopping: https://beslaveryfree.com/chocolate