Trick or Treat

Halloween is all about indulging in treats, but what if we told you there’s a hidden trick behind many of the chocolates we enjoy? Beneath the wrappers, millions of farmers and children are facing the bitter realities of poverty in the cocoa growing industry. We aim to expose the reality of cocoa production — and show you how to be part of the solution.
The farmers who cultivate the cocoa for the chocolate we enjoy, are often trapped in a cycle of poverty, earning far less than a living income for their hard work. Despite being the backbone of the cocoa industry, these farmers face dangerous working conditions, exposure to harmful pesticides, and do not earn a living income. While global chocolate companies make billions in profits, the very people responsible for cocoa production struggle for survival. Tragically, it’s not only the farmers who suffer—over 1.56 million children in West Africa are forced to work alongside them, missing out on the education and childhood every child deserves. For both farmers and children, chocolate comes with a heavy and bitter cost.
This Halloween, you have the power to turn the trick of exploitation into the treat of better chocolate. By making informed decisions, you can support better chocolate production and contribute to positive change. Start by using the Chocolate Scorecard, a comprehensive tool that ranks chocolate companies based on their commitment to living income and better cocoa production. It’s your guide to knowing which brands are taking real steps toward improving the industry. Then, choose to support those better brands – your purchases this Halloween can directly help companies that are fighting to lift cocoa farmers out of poverty and end child labour.