I'm a chocoholic -- chocolate makes everything better. When I'm stressed or depressed, give me the candy bar. Don't have a candy bar to give? I'll take chocolate cakes, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate-covered fruit, or anything else milk- or white chocolate.
Unfortunately, few chocolate companies are worthy of my money. When buying from many major companies (uh hem...Nestle, Mars, Hershey), my money trickles down their supply chain until it supports child labor. Child labor in cocoa harvesting made large news in 2001, and "talks" of reform have occurred since. The Chocolate Company Scorecard of 2009 (published Feb. 2009) gives the details of how some companies are doing when it comes to child labor in the cocoa fields.
The Scorecard gives more details, but here are the initial rankings:
BITTER: Worst offenders of child labor.
Hershey (also owns Dagoba Chocolate)
M&M/Mars (also owns Dove)
Nestle (also owns Haagen-Dazs)
SEMI-SWEET: They've taken steps in the right direction, but are not yet fully committed to protecting the rights of the workers.
Godiva
Ghiradelli/Lindt
Starbucks
Dagoba
Endangered Species Chocolate
SWEET: The most committed to sustainability and improving the conditions of cocoa farmers.
