Child Labor In The Ivory Coast
Children forced to work on cocoa farms for your chocolate.
Child Labor in the Ivory Coast. What you need to know.
Cocoa harvested by child laborers in West Africa.
West Africa is home to two-thirds of the world’s cacao beans (cocoa).Cacao beans are the main ingredient in chocolate, something that fueled a $90 billion industry Complaints filled by 3 California residents, allege that the companies are guilty of false advertising for failing to disclose the use of child slavery on their packaging.“America’s largest and most profitable food conglomerates should not tolerate child labor, much less child slave labor-” The children said they were routinely beaten. “The beatings were part of my life.” Before beating the boys were stripped naked and tied up. Then pummeled with a variety of weapons.The boys got quiet when they were asked if they were beaten today.They enjoy something I suffered to make; I worked hard for them but saw no benefit. They are eating my flesh.” The slave master admits he purchased the young boys and some of the men routinely beat him. He reasoning is because he’s paid a low price for cocoa thus needs to harvest as much of it it possibly can. No one seemed more shocked about child labor than chocolate companies themselves. News made it to congress where U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel quickly drafted legislation asking the Federal Drug Administration to introduce “slave free” labeling.