Table of ContentsIntroductionChild Labor and Trafficking in the Chocolate IndustryThe Dark Side of ChocolateConclusionReferencesIntroductionMany famous chocolate brands have established themselves in Europe, such as Ferrero Rocher in Italy and Lindt in Switzerland. These brands are visible around the world, present in gas stations, airports and shopping malls, boasting high market values ​​and annual profits thanks to their cost-effective sourcing. The limited supply of cocoa beans may stem from low planting and labor costs in African countries. The documentary The Dark Side of Chocolate highlights child labor and trafficking in Ivory Coast, without the knowledge of the Ivorian government and European companies. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayChild Labor and Trafficking in the Chocolate IndustryIn my opinion, the persistence of this problem in the chocolate industry, despite its visibility in the media is attributed to the apathy of most people in the Western world towards the living conditions of African children. Capitalists remain indifferent, focusing only on their interests, while consumers are unable to bring about change. As the owner of the cocoa factory states in the film, the absence of chocolate would be catastrophic. Where chocolate exists, child labor and smuggling also exist. Research indicates an average of 4.5 children per African woman, often due to limited contraception. Driven by poverty and the inability to pay for education, these children, some as young as 10, are forced to work. Young children do not have the ability to distinguish right from wrong, making them easy targets for traffickers who sell them to cocoa plantations for as little as 230 euros. Once taken across borders, they lose communication, are no longer paid and are deprived of the possibility of returning home. Inadequate law enforcement in Africa and the inaccessibility of national organizations leave their rights unprotected. So, despite the media exposure, the Ivory Coast government and the chocolate industry capitalists turn a blind eye, refusing to bring about change. The Dark Side of Chocolate Watching this documentary, I now understand the journey from a chocolate bar from Africa to a vending machine on the Fanshawe campus. Human trafficking is not exclusive to Africa but is prevalent in South America and even Canada. The examples of “slaves” on the coffee plantations of South America, in the pharmaceutical factories of Central America and Southeast Asia, and in the coal mines of China are obvious. Canada faces sexual exploitation as the leading form of human trafficking, according to a study on the Public Safety Canada website. Nonetheless, the food industry witnesses a majority of human trafficking due to reduced labor costs. Illegally exploited workers experience unpaid work and unfair treatment, facilitated by the globalization of the food industry. Western countries buy raw materials from third world countries to reduce their expenses. For example, cocoa beans from Ivory Coast are sold at €1 per kilo. These third world countries, motivated by profit, engage in illegal cost cutting, including buying child labor. Government complicity often stems from national poverty, with influential figures involved in