THE DIRT
Cocoa = the ground seeds from the Cacao tree

Pesticides and Chocolate;
Cacao trees are designed to grow in shaded, humid rainforests. The constant search for a better bottom line has led to many cacao plantations being positoned in full sun. Although cacao trees are more productive in full sun, they are also more suceptible to disease and insects. For this reason cacao is one of the most intensively sprayed food crops on earth.


Health Risks:
The pesticide lindane is commonly used on cacao crops despite the knowledge that it is both a probable carcinogen and a known endocrine (hormone) disrupter.  Lindane is banned in most developed countries, but it it is still in our chocolate.The pesticide action network found that 100% of all conventional chocolate tested contained lindane. Methlyl Bromide, Pyrethrins, Hydrogen Cyanide, Naled and Glyphosphate are also legally allowed in chocolate.

Eco Impact:
Clearance of shade trees greatly reduces biodiversity and increases farmers dependence on a single crop. Increased use of nitogen based fertilisers made necessary by full-sun systems, leads to; soil erosion, decreased soil fertility, pollution of drinking water and damage to aquatic habitats.

Social Cost:
The Ivory coast is where 43% of the worlds cocoa is grown. UNICEF has reported children as young as 9 working on these plantations for no pay. Over 284 000 children in West Africa are working in hazardous conditions on cocao plantations.  Read about Child slavery on Cocoa farms.