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Dear Ms. Pettus,
Thank you for contacting Nestlé®.
Like you and supporters of "Fair Trade Cocoa", and while we do not own cocoa farms anywhere in the world, we strongly believe it is important to ensure cocoa is grown responsibly, without abusive labor practices. Nestlé has actively participated in the chocolate industry's efforts to address the issue through steps outlined in the Harkin-Engel Protocol - a series of steps aimed at eliminating the worst forms of child labor from cocoa growing in West Africa.
Nestlé, along with other candy companies, belong to the World Cocoa Foundation (www.responsiblecocoa.org.), and is a founding member of the International Cocoa Initiative. (www.cocoainitiative.org). Through these organizations, assistance and education are provided to farmers and farm-based communities in developing countries to improve their livelihoods through a sustainable, biologically diverse agricultural system with the goal of providing lasting positive economic, social and environmental benefits.
When concerns were raised about children working on cocoa farms, an independent, US government-funded survey of thousands of cocoa farms was conducted in 2002. The survey found that the vast majority of the one million-plus cocoa farms in West Africa are small, family-owned farms operated by honest, hard-working families whose children work on the farm in an appropriate role as members of the family. The industry is working with governments, labor experts and international organizations to ensure that cocoa is grown responsibly.
For further information, you can visit the World Cocoa Foundation website at Responsible Cocoa.
We appreciate your interest and hope you will visit our website often for the latest information on our products and promotions.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Smith
Consumer Response Representative
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