The chocolate industry was made aware these abuses in 2001. The Chocolate Manufactures Association pledged to eliminate slave and child labor from cocoa production. Many of Hershey's competitors, like Mars and Cadbury, have begun to implement policies to purge child labor from their supply chains. Cadbury, its parent company Kraft Foods, Blommer Chocolate Company, and Mars Inc., and about half a dozen other major chocolate manufactures, have all agreed to use cocoa certified by independent monitors. 

Hershey, however, has refused to allow third party monitors to trace its cocoa supply chain. Over the years, Hershey has also rejected shareholder proposals to increase sourcing transparency within the company and implement labor and environmental standards. Currently, Hershey is the only major chocolate manufacturer that has not made any commitment to source cocoa that has been independently certified to comply with international labor rights standards. 

It is up to you to pressure Hershey’s to take responsibility for labor abuses in its supply chain and begin using Fair Trade Certified cocoa for its chocolate. This summer, join Global Exchange, Green America, and the ILRF in fighting child labor in the chocolate industry. Use Fair Trade chocolate in your s'mores and check out all the ways you can take action to tell Hershey you want "more from your s'mores" online here. You can send an e-mail to Hershey right now here or sign our petition here and download copies to collect signatures in your community. You can also join us at a rally in front of the Hershey's Times Square store on June 8th! Not in NYC? Send the information to friends and family in the New York area!