Chocolate Easter bunnies in the test: Fairtrade or shadow economy?

Chocolate Easter bunnies in the test: Fairtrade or shadow economy?

In a current test of chocolate east bunnies, Global 2000 and Südwind took a close look at 36 products from Austrian supermarkets. The test shows worrying results: eight chocolate buns received a double "red" rating, including well -known brands from Lindt and Mondelez. This clarifies that not all manufacturers meet the necessary social and ecological standards. On the other hand, six products were able to show both the Fairtrade seal and the EU bios seal, which is a positive exception. Despite these positive examples, the range of certified products is growing.

The test results are not only limited to the quality of the chocolate, but also take a critical look at the production conditions. Many cocoa beans in Austria come from Ghana and the Ivory Coast, where child and forced labor are widespread. According to Fairtrade, there is a 30 percent decline in the cocoa harvest in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which raises further concerns about sustainability. The test results indicate that transparency is necessary for consumers, since many companies do not list independent certificates on the packaging.

The reality of child labor

Reality for many children on cocoa lantes in the Ivory Coast is alarming. Around 2.1 million children work under dangerous conditions, often without payment. A terrifying report shows that children aged only five years to 16 years of age work in cocoa production. The workers often do not receive any wages, and many of these children have even been sold by their parents to work on the plantations. This happens because the parents are unable to feed their children.

According to the International Cocoa Initiative, child labor in the Ivory Coast is still widespread, despite some progress in combating the problem. Only in countries like the Dominican Republic could child labor be successfully pushed back. Chocolate manufacturers such as Lindt have announced that they can obtain 100 percent of the cocoa from countries with potential child labor from monitored farmers by 2025. Nevertheless, progress has so far been insufficient.

environment and social responsibility

Current efforts in the EU and Austria are under pressure, but they endanger the existing regulations on corporate responsibility and transparency. Over 70 percent of the cocoa beans grown worldwide come from the Ivory Coast and Ghana, whereby cocoa farmers today only earn 6 percent of the value of a table of chocolate. This distribution of income was even more fairer in the 1970s.

The darkness of the chocolate industry is illuminated by numerous reports and studies. Companies that are committed to sustainability could be supported by independent certifications such as Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance, but they do not offer an absolute guarantee that products without child labor were produced. The Easter bunny check shows that fair and ecologically compatible action is possible, but the way there remains paved with challenges.

Consumers are required to pay attention to the origin of their chocolate and to work for a fairer method of production. This is the only way to become a fair and sustainable industry.

For more information about the test results of the chocolate east bunnies, visit Tagesschau and Humanium .