This Easter, act for Aziz
From Ellie Finkelstein, Freedom United
Mondelēz—makers of Cadbury, Oreo, Toblerone, Milka, and more—have publicly committed to ethical sourcing, yet continue to fall short. They’ve only participated once in the independent Chocolate Scorecard in the last three years.[1]
“Mondelēz knows its practices perpetuate child labor and child slavery, yet it nonetheless slaps phony ‘seals’ on its products claiming its cocoa is ‘100% sustainable’ or ‘certified,’ or claiming that it ‘supports’ or ‘helps’ farmers when it knows the opposite is true.”
—Megan Waggener Van Meters, plaintiff in class action lawsuit against Mondelez International Inc.[2]
Mondelēz, act now!
Let me paint you a picture of the real stories behind unethical and non-transparent cocoa sourcing:
The sun blazes mercilessly over the dense forest where cocoa plantations thrive in western Côte d’Ivoire. At just 15, Aziz was trafficked into a world deep in that forest, where men and children sleep in crammed huts and survive off river water, bound to a life that offers nothing but toil and suffering while producing cocoa beans.
For five years, Aziz worked without pay—trapped in an illegal settlement, where the hard shells of cocoa pods do not discriminate against age.
Take action
| His reward after years of grueling forced labor? A small parcel of cocoa trees. He hasn’t seen his parents since he left. Aziz is one of many. In the deep forests of West Africa, children swing machetes instead of holding books. Thirteen-year-olds on the field laugh bitterly when asked about school—it’s not even a dream, just a cruel joke. And the chocolate their labor produces? It ends up on supermarket shelves, wrapped in shiny foil, especially at Easter. Listen to Aziz’s full story. |
| This Easter weekend, as families gather and unwrap their favorite chocolate treats, the truth remains hidden. But it shouldn’t be. We’re demanding accountability. But we need your voice to make it impossible for Mondelēz to ignore. Will you sign the petition todayand demand that Mondelēz clean up their cocoa supply chain? |
Sign the petition
Every signature tells chocolate companies that consumers won’t accept exploitation in their chocolate. Because no child should have to give up their future for our chocolate.
In solidarity,
Ellie and the team that supports the Freedom United community
| Ellie Finkelstein Campaigner and News Editor, Freedom United |
1] https://www.chocolatescorecard.com/?mc_cid=281e6656c4&mc_eid=df97e12665
[2] https://www.freedomunited.org/news/mondelez-sued-child-labor/
