Fair-trade certification is an important tool for ending the worst forms of child labor on African cocoa farms. Currently farmers receive so little for their cocoa that they cannot afford to hire adults, and impoverished families often are forced to send their children to perform dangerous tasks on cocoa farms. Small cocoa farmers need to receive a fair price for their cocoa. Most cocoa is purchased by a few huge candy makers:  Hershey, Cadbury, Nestle, and Mars. Unless these firms pay a fair and stable price for cocoa, and buy only from farmers who produce cocoa without utilizing the worst forms of child labor, little will change. 

But change is happening. Cadbury recently announced they will use fairly-traded chocolate in their largest selling chocolate bar in the UK. Send a letter thanking them for this decision. Other major candy manufacturers should follow Cadbury’s lead. Send a letter to Hershey urging them to use fairly-traded chocolate in the candy they make in the US. 

Fair trade chocolate can help end dangerous child labor in West Africa’s cocoa industry. Send letters thanking Cadbury and urging Hershey to use fair trade cocoa.