If you hand out candy for Halloween, this information is probably too late for you. (And you ought not feel guilty about that!) But if you eat candy, it’s worth knowing that like so many things before it, candy can be made from ethically and unethically sourced ingredients.
Nestle, Mars and Hershey are being called out for unfulfilled promises to source palm oil, essential for their products, from sources other than deforested Indonesian jungles. These companies’ thirst for palm oil is prompting the development of illegal plantations and logging, destroying the natural habitat of rhinos and other animals. The dollars raked in by chocolate production trump concerns about wild animals, and groups like the Rainforest Action Network and Greenpeace were given promises by all three companies that they’d do better and in some cases, they’ve done worse. I love Hershey’s Kisses but I love the idea of clouded leopards having a natural habitat even more.
The story from The Guardian explains more about the alternatives and how badly these companies are failing at keeping their word. You can read it HERE.