APRIL 1st, 2023 | Devon Kash

More Reasons To Think Twice About Hershey's Chocolate

Never mind the company's full rejection of biology and science, how about its other practices?

Hershey, one of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers, has a history of unethical business practices. Long before it earned the ire of conservatives for putting a biological male in advertisements for International Women's Day, Hershey was doing things that should have gained everyone's ire. More recently, many Hershey products were found to have traces of lead and cadmium, but that's not the worst of it.

Its sourcing of cocoa has been a hot topic, which has been linked to child labour and exploitation. According to the International Labour Rights Forum, Hershey was one of several chocolate companies that failed to meet their commitments to eliminate child labour in its production facilities. The report found that children as young as six-years-old were working in hazardous conditions on cocoa farms in West Africa—the source of much of the world's cocoa. This issue has been ongoing for many years and despite Hershey's promises to address it, progress has been slow. The ILRF identified specific facilities in Côte d'Ivoire that were linked to child labour, including one where children as young as 12 were forced to work long hours in hazardous conditions, without access to education, sanitation, or healthcare.

Hershey has been accused of contributing to deforestation through its sourcing of palm oil. Palm oil is a key ingredient in many of Hershey's products, including its popular Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The destruction of rainforests for palm oil plantations not only contributes to so-called climate change, but also destroys critical habitats for endangered species like orangutans and tigers.

Environmentalists should have been outraged years ago. Perhaps that's why Hershey chose such a specific audience for its latest woke ad campaign. It works as a good distraction and way to win over people of the same ideology. 

The company has also been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to its business practices. According to Oxfam America, Hershey scored poorly on their supposed commitments to ethical sourcing, transparency and accountability. Hershey was found to have a lack of transparency around its sourcing of cocoa and was also criticized for not engaging with stakeholders, or providing adequate information about its CSR (corporate social responsibility) programs. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions about the products they buy.

Hershey has also been accused of using unethical marketing tactics to target children. It was one of several candy companies that marketed unhealthy products to children through social media, mobile apps and other digital channels. A report from the Yale Rudd Centre found that Hershey's advertising campaigns often used cartoon characters, bright colours and other tactics that appeal to children, despite the fact that the products being marketed are high in sugar and calories. The company's products, like many other candies and sweets, are often high in sugar and calories, contributing to the growing issue of childhood obesity.

According to the World Health Organization, childhood obesity rates have risen in recent years, with nearly 124 million children worldwide now considered overweight or obese.

Finally, Hershey has been criticized for its labour practices, particularly its treatment of adult workers in its production facilities. Hershey has exploited a program that brings in temporary foreign workers to its production facilities, failing to provide adequate housing and working conditions. The workers were also required to pay exorbitant fees to recruitment agencies in order to secure the jobs, which resulted in many of them being in debt before they even started working.

Our favourite Valentine's and Easter chocolate company has a long history of unethical business practices and labour issues that should have been on people's radar a long time ago. From its sourcing of cocoa and palm oil, to its lack of transparency and accountability, its lack of respect for science and its unethical marketing tactics and labour practices, Hershey has repeatedly failed to meet the expectations of consumers, activists and stakeholders. Consumers have the power to demand change by choosing to support companies that prioritize ethical and science-based practices, and by holding companies like Hershey accountable for their actions.

Hershey's brand portfolio includes a number of well-known chocolate and confectionery brands, including Reese's, KitKat (United States), Cadbury (United States), Twizzlers and Jolly Rancher. While these brands are popular among consumers on a daily basis and during holidays, it is important to note that they are all under the umbrella of Hershey and, therefore, share in the company's labour issues, woke politics and ethical challenges. Consumers who are concerned about these issues may want to consider seeking out alternative brands. By doing so, they can help create demand for more responsible, less woke business practices within the chocolate and confectionery industry as a whole—or maybe just put the company out of business.

In Canada and Europe, KitKat is produced by Nestle and the license to produce Cadbury is owned by Mondelez. For now, these two brands are off the hook in Canada.