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Whole Foods to withdraw Scharffen Berger pending Hershey's response to child labor allegations |
10.05.2012
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Whole Foods Market locations around the country will be removing one of Hershey's high end products-- Scharffen Berger chocolate-- from shelves across the country by yearend, due to Hershey's failure to assure that the cocoa is sourced without the use of forced child labor.
Therelease from the Raise the Bar Hershey coalition quotes a letter from Whole Foods that states: "We do not take the concern over child labor or slave labor lightly, and we are currently in ongoing conversations with Hershey's about its existing social accountability programs...Whole Foods Market is removing Scharffen Berger chocolate from our shelves pending receiving further information from Hershey's."
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According to the coalition, the decision comes in response to demands from more than 15,000 customers and public statements of concern from some 40 natural food retailers and coops regarding Scharffen Berger and Dagoba, another high-end Hershey's brand.
While Dagoba is certified by the Rainforest Alliance, the coalition argues that Hershey's overall lack of commitment to ethical sourcing means the company should be shut out of high end, certified chocolate sales until they change their approach to cocoa overall.
According to a U.S. government-funded study, over 1.8 million children work in West Africa's cocoa industry.
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