Correction: Lindt DIDN’T lie. We can eat lindt chocolate in peace!
There are two parts to this entry. One that was posted earlier today, which I am redirecting to this one so to ensure I don’t communicate any misleading messages.
Lindt LIED. No more chocolate for me.
While about a year ago I posted the good news that Lindt chocolate was not slave trade chocolate after they responded to my email stating they do not buy beans form the Ivory Coast (see entry Lindt chocolate is NOT slave chocolate)
Now “L.S.”, a reader of this blog entry, has informed me that in fact over a third of their cocoa comes from the Ivory Coast (see the pie chart above which is sourced from here – http://irpages2.equitystory.com/lindt/pdf/Annual_Results_07.pdf)
The Ivory Coast is where 90% of the beans are harvested by slave labour – people brought there to work under physical force without pay…
I have replied to Lindt’s last email, attaching the above chart.
Dear Jane
Someone from my blog has brought to my attention to your annual report which says in fact you DO source your cocoa beans from the Ivory Coast. Why did you tell me you didn’t?
Thanks,
Juliet.
Will be interesting to see how they respond…
For now this means my favourite chocolate brand has gone out the window.
I can not enjoy something as great as chocolate when I know the physical violence to the lives of other human beings.
To make matters worse, Aldi has decided to stop stocking the Ecuador single-source chocolate – the only chocolate I figured I could safely buy as all its beans were sourced in Ecuador.
If anyone can tell me where I can get nice dark chocolate without the associated horror – please let me know. It might be radical to give up my favourite food, but right now I can’t enjoy it. Until something happens to stop slave trade, NO MORE CHOCOLATE FOR ME 
A few hours later, blog entry #2:
Correction: Lindt DIDN’T lie. We can eat Lindt chocolate in peace!
Incredible. I have a reply already!!!
Dear Juliet
I think there is a misunderstanding: The person from your blog has misinterpreted the attached graph referred to. If you look at the graph you will see that it shows the worldwide COCOA production, and has nothing to do with LINDT chocolate production. As a matter of fact, the concerned graph shows that Ivory Coast is the world’s biggest cocoa producer, Ghana the second biggest cocoa country.
We confirm once more that – SINCE 2005 - WE DO NOT PURCHASE OUR AFRICAN COCOA BEANS FROM IVORY COAST BUT FROM GHANA. We would very much appreciate if you could inform your blogger, that he/she is wrong and that such kind of uncorrect information does harm the reputation of our company!
Kind regards
Jane
So there you go. Jane, and Lindt, I apologize for my hasty accusations. Note to self: think, try to gather all details, before you act.
That pie chart from my last entry refers to the sources of cocoa beans worldwide – not Lindt chocolate. It was mine and Lan’s mistake.
As far as I’m aware, while Ghana is right next door, the slavery practices only occur in the Ivory Coast… that’s what a university colleague who is from Ghana told me anyway.
You know what this means? I’m back onto chocolate! (That was a very quick turn around).
I am going to buy a block of Lindt Sea Salt to celebrate!!! (Have you tried it yet? It sounds salt+bitter+sweet – it sounds interesting but it’s taste and texture is GREAT!!!)
FYI Previous email correspondence:
Subject: Cocoa Sourcing AU
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:56:54 +0200
From: S@lindt.com
To: julietbennett@hotmail.com
In a general way, as far as our sourcing of raw materials for all our group companies is concerned, we kindly ask you to notice the following points:
Lindt & Sprüngli is one of the few chocolate makers that have complete control over every step of the production chain starting with the precise selection of the finest cocoa varieties from the best growing areas in the world right on through the careful and expert processing until ending with the elegant packaging. To safeguard the uniform and consistently high quality of all our chocolate products, all ingredients are thoroughly tested in our own laboratories before and after purchase, so that we can be sure that their quality constantly meets the highest standards.
While cocoa is currently traded at the commodity stock exchanges, superior grade cocoa beans (so called flavor beans or fine grade cocoa), as we utilize to a great extent for the manufacturing of our premium products, are purchased through traders at a substantial premium price over ordinary bulk cocoa. These finest grade cocoa beans (also called “Criollo” cocoa) can only be grown in specific geographical areas (Central and South America, Caribbean Area). While the fine grade cocoa production is a very small part of the world’s supply, it is exactly those (together with the Trinitario cocoa which is also considered as fine grade cocoa) for which Lindt & Sprüngli’s demand is very high. The remaining part of cocoa beans used by our company mainly for fillings, so called “Forastero” cocoa, are not sourced from Ivory Coast where most of the allegations about child labour originate, but from Ghana, where one of the top quality Forastero beans come from and where a premium price is paid for.
Lindt & Sprüngli is extremely concerned about possible practices of child labour and can assure you that we condemn any abusive practices. This is one of the reasons why we do not source cocoa beans from Ivory Coast. Prudent and conscientious relations with the environment and with the communities in which we live and work are important to us and enshrined in our Company Credo. In the procurement of our raw materials, great importance is therefore attached to compliance with the rules of sustainable conduct. This includes respect for social and societal aspects, such as working conditions and incomes of farmers in the growing countries, support and promotion of environmentally friendly production conditions, and payment of fair prices for raw materials which satisfy our stringent quality criteria.
In our opinion and to our regret, the existing fair trade organizations cannot continually supply us with the essential quality or quantities required. That is the reason why we refrain from the purchasing of cocoas from such organizations and look for other means of advocating responsible and sustainable dealings with our most important raw material, cocoa. As a matter of fact, there are many ways to strive for sustainable and responsible cocoa sourcing practices. This can also include individual projects and purchasing methods.
May we in particular bring the following to your attention:
The control of the overall production process from the selection of the best cocoa beans to the ready-packed product is one of the important aspects for the guarantee of the reliable premium quality of LINDT products. Another very valuable aspect is the traceability of the processed cocoa beans. For this purpose Lindt & Sprüngli subscribed to a new sourcing model in Ghana. This new procurement system contains binding guidelines between local cocoa suppliers and Lindt & Sprüngli. Within the framework of this project, Lindt & Sprüngli not only guarantees stable prices for the farmers involved, but also best quality and traceability of cocoa beans sourced in Ghana. Furthermore, Lindt & Sprüngli pays an extra-fee for those beans, which is partly allocated in favour of a foundation in charge of target-oriented social projects, the development of regional infrastructure and the continuous improvement of cocoa quality (www.sourcetrust.org). The projects supported by this foundation will be controlled by an independent, international audit committee. Lindt & Sprüngli is convinced that this purchasing strategy is a crucial prerequisite to better control the buying process of cocoa beans while at the same time countervailing local grievances in producing regions such as child labour. With this self-contained purchasing concept, which will be fully effective from 2009 onwards, Lindt & Sprüngli makes a solid contribution to the promotion of social compatible and to fair economic conditions for the cocoa farmers in Ghana. Based on the first positive results from the Ghana project, Lindt & Sprüngli is considering to extend this purchasing concept to fine-flavour cocoa beans in Latin America.
Moreover, through membership and active participation in local branch associations or international non-profit organizations such as the WORLD COCOA FOUNDATION www.worldcocoafoundation.org we support the underlying idea of sustainable cocoa growing and provide financial contributions to that end. WCF is a partnership between the cocoa-processing industry and government agencies, international associations, trade organizations, and non-Governmental Organizations. The aim of this cooperation is to safeguard stable and secure cocoa supplies. This is done by taking measures to increase revenues and re-duce harvest losses, while also securing income conditions that enable cocoa farmers in Africa, Latin America, and Asia to lead a viable and worthwhile life.
But Lindt & Sprüngli’s commitment in the areas of cocoa production and sustainability is also strengthened by our direct support of other specific projects that bring direct benefits to the countries of origin. With that aim in mind, we support, for example, the Sustainable Tree Crop Program (STCP) in West Africa as well as research projects to secure and develop cocoa cultivation and processing with a view toward the supply of high-quality raw materials.
With a share of around 70% of world cocoa production, West Africa is the key region in this regard. Yields on the cultivation and sale of cocoa are the key to the survival of a high proportion of the local farming population. The STCP was started as a pilot project primarily to improve the cocoa economy, which is based on small farming structures in the West African countries of the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. The aim of STCP is to improve the economic and social welfare of small farmers and their communities, accompanied by safeguards for ecological sustainability in agriculture. The main points of action are: promotion of production and distribution of high-quality cocoa, improvement of market access and of the incomes of the small producers, development of environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and economically sustainable systems of cocoa cultivation. The projects concentrate mainly on integrated cultivation and harvest management, control of insect damages, cocoa quality improvement, the development of organizational skills and tools and the awareness of social aspects, such as child labor and diseases like AIDS. This information is passed on to the cocoa farmers primarily at the “Farmer Field Schools”, a participative training and educational scheme.
Support for scientific projects in the area of external applied botanical research is another element in the promotion of a sustainable cocoa economy: Today, the collection of genotypes of the Trinitario plant population, which became known as the “Imperial College Selections”, is among the world’s most important reference collections of genetic cocoa resources. A systematic evaluation of quality features and sensory properties is now being conducted as part of a project of the “Cocoa Research Unit” at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad with a view to future cultivation projects. Lindt & Sprüngli supports this project. The group also participates in further projects concerning applied cocoa research in South America.
It is our hope that the foregoing answers your questions and emphasizes our commitment to help establish sustainable, long-term solutions for cocoa farmers.
Yours sincerely
Jane
Jane - Corporate Communications
Lindt & Sprüngli (International) AG | Seestrasse 204 | CH-8802 Kilchberg
tel +41 44 716 2456 | fax+41 44 716 2661 | skalin@lindt.com | www.lindt.com
From: Juliet Bennett [mailto:julietbennett@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, 10 September 2009 1:08 PM
To: Customer Service – AU
Subject: Your cocoa
Hello
Simple question from a devoted Lindt customer: where does Lindt get their cocoa beans from? Do any come from the Ivory Coast?
Thanks
Juliet
Note: I’m not sure about defamation laws so I have changed the name of the woman from Lindt who lied to me to Jane, just to be on the safe side.
Hey Juliet.
Lucky to get away with such a reconciliatory approach from Lindt. And you might like to put a comment on the other blog posting to highlight it’s been corrected to avoid facing a libel action.
Be interesting to know about cross border trade between Ghana and Ivory Coast, and if any of Ghana’s chocolate is ethically badged Ivory Coast produce.
Even if it is, it’s hard for any organisation like Lindt to take that level of due diligence over their suppliers.
http://www.seventypercent.com/2007/09/ethical-chocolate/ for more background.
How about a sherbet UFO?
Am I the only one concerned by how relaxed this blogger is at a gross factual error?
Hey Linda,
When someone tells me something I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. While some may call it naive, and while I admit it might be my mind manipulating itself to believe what it wants to (so that it can get it’s chocolate fix without guilt) – I didn’t realise that I was being relaxed about some “gross factual error”… would you mind expanding on this and telling me what error you are referring to, and where I am being mislead?
Thanks,
Juliet.
Hello,
Thanks for sharing your research. I’m hopelessly in love with Lindt chocolate, but it’s important to me to know that it’s ethical, or else I’ll have to give it up. The following paragraph from their website seems interesting to me:
“Lindt & Sprüngli’s ‘flavour’ cocoa is sourced from South America and the Caribbean. Its ‘consumer’ beans come exclusively from Ghana. Cocoa beans for cocoa butter are sourced by third parties mainly from West Africa and Indonesia and then processed – i.e. roasted and pressed – into cocoa butter. Lindt & Sprüngli insists its suppliers to adhere to the Lindt & Sprüngli Supplier Code of Conduct. In future, Lindt & Sprüngli will look into possibilities of extending its traceability programme for cocoa beans to cocoa butter.”
While their flavour and consumer beans may not come from the Ivory Coast, it looks like the beans for cocoa butter do come from the ambiguous “West Africa,” which may very well include the Ivory coast. The last sentence in the paragraph suggests that they don’t currently hold their suppliers of cocoa butter accountable for the origins of the beans.
It sounds like they are making an effort. I really, really, really want to be able to eat Lindt Chocolate, because nothing compares to the quality, in my experience. However it just isn’t clear to me that they are flawlessly ethical yet.
P.S.
I have a request. Since you’ve established communication with them already, would you mind asking explicitly if their cocoa butter suppliers get their cocoa beans from the Ivory Coast?
Also, if they are so dedicated to minimizing (from their website) “corruption and bribery, discrimination and child labour.” and to “[guaranteeing] freely chosen employment, fair compensation and working conditions as well as freedom of association,” why don’t they get the fair trade label? I would really like to hear their response to that.
Thanks so much,
Brooks
It’s weird how cocoa beans and chocolate can be so controversial. No problem with the product, just how the people behind it are running the process I guess.
I looked at the sourcing chart you posted, and then checked on the website again, because i am doing a project on the sustainability of Lindt, and the Chairman says in his statement that they changed to sourcing cocoa beans from Ghana in 2009, the chart you have is from 2008, when they still sourced from the Ivory Coast
At least your heart was in the right place. However, I think boycotting corporations that in some way support exploitation is unrealistic in such a globalized world.
For example, you probably know someone who owns an iphone (or any new type of electronic), perhaps you do, yourself. Theres a good chance that phone you talk into, or computer you type on contains the element, Cobalt.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/2005cobalt_%28mined%29.PNG cobalt is largely found in many African nations. A major supplier is Congo, which in 2008 supplied 40% of the worlds cobalt supply, with a total of 31,000 metric tonnes. As well as destroying natural habitations of many animals, a supply chain controlled by local militia groups dominate local citizens. Similar to African “blood-diamonds”, militia groups force innocent men, women and children to mine cobalt which is sold to corporations around the world.
But is that really important when we can facetime to friends and family on a 32gb iphone 4?
You are very right Greg. I had heard of this once and then I forgot about it – it’s so easy to do that in our society. All we see is our protected consumerised world – by no choice of our own the wars that go on for computer parts and the lives and trees ruined for our goods is hidden behind an almost opaque facade. Consumers can’t be blamed. In fact, the system is structured so that NO ONE can be blamed.
Actually I think something can: the law that separates shareholders and corporate responsibility. If shareholders were legally responsible for the unethical actions their money is used for, then maybe we would see this kind of exploitation change.
How the heck one might go about changing the basic law of corporation? Would people be willing to lose their easy money for a system that’s fairer at it’s core? Sounds impossible. However, it seems to me, that this is the only way our ecological and social responsibilites can be met. The laws as it stands define corporations as having a goal to provide profit for shareholders and hence corporations will continue to exploit with no limits in sight.
that amazing thx sooo much realy i like it so much
I wouldn’t be so fast to buy chocolate from beans harvested in Ghana. They use child labour, heavy pesticide use (including Agent Orange), and unsustainable farming practices. The best thing is to stick to chocolate from South American sources that are both Fair Trade certified and properly farmed.
Buy South America, keep Africa poor. I’m in Ivory Coast, and from here this doesn’t sound like a very positive thought.
Maybe rather than hoping too much of tiny Fairtrade miracles, we should start influencing things where it matters… including pay attention to whom we vote in our respective countries? And what their foreign and trade policy is with African nations? Are our trade regulations fair? (read, do we still really need subsidies for Western farmers?… how many are these people really?? Why do we subsudise sugar at all?) This thing is so big that fair trade can only be discussed effectively through credible foreign policy, I’m afraid. But maybe I’m too bitter…
By the way, if anybody knows, is gold fairtraded? Do you know where it comes from? Are you married? Do you have a ring? … and let’s not start on shampooing…
Hi Diego, great to hear from someone who is actually there, and great points. I agree.
The thing is put solutions on our one vote (which is generally between two parties who are both offering more or less the same thing) doesn’t allow for much hope either.
Trade regulation isn’t fair but the structure of our “democracy” sees governments put their short term self interest above anything else. If giving western farmers subsidies means they get votes, that is what they will do.
The idea behind fair trade is to make a statement to corporations and governments – to tell them that as consumers and voters we don’t want to buy products that see people treated unfairly. It is not a solution. But it does rise awareness levels of the problem. And it does show the people who care about people more than money – well at least more than the extra few dollars it costs to buy fair trade.
The more I study it the more I see that the whole global system has to change away from one driven purely by short-term monetary profit. The new system would look much the same but without the oppressive relationships between and within countries. There is no reason that absolute poverty and hunger should exist in this world, or any form of human slavery. To address this I think there only needs to be a few changes in corporation law, finance/banks, media/political campaigns and role definitions at different levels – which would even out the playing field. But the stakes are high for those at the top – the only way I can see this happening is if they realise what is truly valuable is not money that comes at the cost of other’s lives. I don’t think dirty money can bring anyone happiness in the long term.
I’d love to hear more on this from your perspective…???
Are they certified fair trade?l don`t think so.(this is the only way to trust the product)
Thanks for all this info! A chocolate lover, I find Lindt dark to be the most reasonable and accessible. But I will now – at least occasionally – look for Fair Trade alternatives.
here are links to a movie that has footage of chocolate slavery in west africa
i hope they upload fine
http://www.disclose.tv/members/action/viewvideo/65098/the_dark_side_of_chocolate_1_2/
http://www.disclose.tv/members/action/viewvideo/65104/The_Dark_Side_Of_Chocolate_2_2/