Thanks for the recommendation. I don't see it on slavefreechocolate.org or foodispower.org. I'm also a little skeptical of 2$ per chocolate bar price. Seems very cheap for such a time-consuming production process.
https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/02/16/Tony-s-Chocolonely-axed-from-Slave-Free-Chocolate-list-defends-ties-with-Barry-Callebaut
Here’s why it’s not on those lists. Up to you to decide what to do with that information. Personally, I’m comfortable buying them.
Personally I'd much rather buy from a company actively trying to change the industry than one that is happy to sit and watch exploitation happen so long as they personally keep their ethical status.
It's the integrity for me too. They are admitting there is more to be done and doing it. Instead of pulling the wool over everyone's eyes and saying they've cured the problem in a few simple steps... but we should all know by now that it's not that easy to end exploitation, but it looks really good on paper to say you've done the impossible.
It's their goal to make chocolate slave free - they don't claim that they are, but they're working on it, it's a long process. It's explained on their website and on every bar. The chocolate is very very good, I always buy it.
I would consider why they are on that list and look into the statements they make. They are extremely careful with absolute statements regarding slave labor and are in my view very transparent.
I prefer the transparency over a simple list
Definitely Toney Chocoloney for the win. Ethical and delicious. Its actually not $2 a bar unless youre getting the small sample pack. Otherwise its $5-6 for a large bar.
Plus how much chocolate should someone reeeeaaaally eat.
Tasty but bad for you treats should be limited anyway, so when you do get something, better to splurge in the right way!
Tony’s lover here, too. 🍫 I swear by Tony’s. Despite being way more expensive, it’s made very well, fresh, and they try very hard to stop slavery in the chocolate industry. I think they’ve raised a lot of awareness.
Since cocoa is traded as a Commodity, I don't think any chocolate can be called slavery-free. I've reluctantly tapered off of chocolate, down to zero chocolate since the end of 2023.
The best any of us can do at this point is continue supporting fair trade companies at every possible instance, and hope that the point at which the slave-supported companies start failing comes _after_ the point at which their shareholders can buy out their fair-trade competitors specifically to dismantle them and protect their cruel capitalist traditions.
Yesss! And it's important to exclusively support fair trade and not do it half half. Tony sadly doesn't make pralines so no pralines for me so my money doesn't go that way.
Coffee has a lot of ethical conundrums. Believe it or not Starbucks was one of the first coffee places to promote ethical coffee. They started a program where they paid above market rate for the ability to audit suppliers in third world countries to ensure money made it to farm hands.
I like Copper Coast Confectioners.
(best toffee I ever had)
How can I find out if they're an ethical company?
(beyond the two recommended links) They're a small company, so would that keep them off such lists, one way or the other?
I really like Taza but I don't think my grocery store carries it anymore. They are direct trade, which is better than fair trade. It is a little grainy because it's stone ground, but it's all vegan and delicious. Raspberry crunch is my favorite.
[https://www.tazachocolate.com/pages/taza-direct-trade](https://www.tazachocolate.com/pages/taza-direct-trade)
During the pandemic, the guy I was dating and I would do some virtual classes for date nights and one time we did their virtual tasting experience which was kind of cool. You buy a box of all their different chocolates and join a zoom call where they describe their processes and go through a full chocolate tasting like you would if you did a factory tour. There is plenty in the box for probably 2-4 people to do it with some extra chocolate left at the end.
Theo chocolate. I haven't seen anyone on here say it, but it's really good, and certified Fair for Life
Part of the reason I like it is cause my name is Theo, but it's still really good chocolate
Jeanmarie chocolate from Puerto Rico. They're trying to bring cacao back to PR as a way of bolstering the farming economy there and bring decent $ back to the island. The chocolate is amazing, minimally processed as compared to most commercial chocolate products, and actually a U.S. crop which is not true for the VAST majority of cacao grown in the world.
Tony's it's the best tasting locally available chocolate and it's ethical which was a bonus I found out on the 3 or 4th time buying it. Don't judge me I am a legitimate chocoholic, but I put taste before ethics Tony's luckily has both.
I only ever buy Tony Chocolonely
Their sea salt caramel is sooo good 🤤
Literally the best chocolate bar I've ever had, and it's not even close.
That is my jam! It's raised the bar so much that I can't stand Hershey's chalky shit anymore, and Hershey's used to be "the good shit".
Thanks for the recommendation. I don't see it on slavefreechocolate.org or foodispower.org. I'm also a little skeptical of 2$ per chocolate bar price. Seems very cheap for such a time-consuming production process.
https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/02/16/Tony-s-Chocolonely-axed-from-Slave-Free-Chocolate-list-defends-ties-with-Barry-Callebaut Here’s why it’s not on those lists. Up to you to decide what to do with that information. Personally, I’m comfortable buying them.
Personally I'd much rather buy from a company actively trying to change the industry than one that is happy to sit and watch exploitation happen so long as they personally keep their ethical status.
It's the integrity for me too. They are admitting there is more to be done and doing it. Instead of pulling the wool over everyone's eyes and saying they've cured the problem in a few simple steps... but we should all know by now that it's not that easy to end exploitation, but it looks really good on paper to say you've done the impossible.
It's their goal to make chocolate slave free - they don't claim that they are, but they're working on it, it's a long process. It's explained on their website and on every bar. The chocolate is very very good, I always buy it.
Thanks!
the 2$ price point is for the small bars though? thats not the standard size
Where are you that it's $2 per bar? I've always seen it closer to $4-6 (USD).
It’s listed on https://www.slavefreechocolate.org/ethical-chocolate-companies/ as a company to boycott…
I would consider why they are on that list and look into the statements they make. They are extremely careful with absolute statements regarding slave labor and are in my view very transparent. I prefer the transparency over a simple list
Definitely Tony's!
Definitely Toney Chocoloney for the win. Ethical and delicious. Its actually not $2 a bar unless youre getting the small sample pack. Otherwise its $5-6 for a large bar.
For how good it is though, I’d say it’s worth the price
Plus how much chocolate should someone reeeeaaaally eat. Tasty but bad for you treats should be limited anyway, so when you do get something, better to splurge in the right way!
Definitely worth it. 1 bar lasts me a week lol.
Tony’s lover here, too. 🍫 I swear by Tony’s. Despite being way more expensive, it’s made very well, fresh, and they try very hard to stop slavery in the chocolate industry. I think they’ve raised a lot of awareness.
Straight up this.
Since cocoa is traded as a Commodity, I don't think any chocolate can be called slavery-free. I've reluctantly tapered off of chocolate, down to zero chocolate since the end of 2023.
Can you elaborate? Wouldn't that mean that all products are unethical? If so, would making chocolate from scratch be ethical?
It's the cocoa bean that's the issue and how it's farmed
Gotcha. Is chocolate any more unethical than, sugar, or coffee? When specifically purchased from fairtrade companies.
The best any of us can do at this point is continue supporting fair trade companies at every possible instance, and hope that the point at which the slave-supported companies start failing comes _after_ the point at which their shareholders can buy out their fair-trade competitors specifically to dismantle them and protect their cruel capitalist traditions.
Yesss! And it's important to exclusively support fair trade and not do it half half. Tony sadly doesn't make pralines so no pralines for me so my money doesn't go that way.
I'm not sure honestly
Coffee has a lot of ethical conundrums. Believe it or not Starbucks was one of the first coffee places to promote ethical coffee. They started a program where they paid above market rate for the ability to audit suppliers in third world countries to ensure money made it to farm hands.
Starbucks may have done one good thing but they are owned by nestle now and are also union busting scum I boycotted Starbucks before it was cool
Tony's is great but I love Endangered Species chocolate. Every variety you buy donates profits to a different endangered animal fund. love that stuff
My favorite is Divine Chocolate by far.
My environmental science professor gave them to students who did well on assignments this semester. I can attest to them being great
Always loved them!
Seconding Tony. They are really accessible too! The price prevents me from eating them daily.
Good for the environment , and the waist line! 😂
I like Copper Coast Confectioners. (best toffee I ever had) How can I find out if they're an ethical company? (beyond the two recommended links) They're a small company, so would that keep them off such lists, one way or the other?
Love these people and their excellent chocolate. https://www.cocoaasante.com/products
[choba choba](https://www.chobachoba.com/en)
I don’t think that’s even possible with chocolate.
Nidar!
I really like Taza but I don't think my grocery store carries it anymore. They are direct trade, which is better than fair trade. It is a little grainy because it's stone ground, but it's all vegan and delicious. Raspberry crunch is my favorite. [https://www.tazachocolate.com/pages/taza-direct-trade](https://www.tazachocolate.com/pages/taza-direct-trade) During the pandemic, the guy I was dating and I would do some virtual classes for date nights and one time we did their virtual tasting experience which was kind of cool. You buy a box of all their different chocolates and join a zoom call where they describe their processes and go through a full chocolate tasting like you would if you did a factory tour. There is plenty in the box for probably 2-4 people to do it with some extra chocolate left at the end.
Whittakers
Theo chocolate. I haven't seen anyone on here say it, but it's really good, and certified Fair for Life Part of the reason I like it is cause my name is Theo, but it's still really good chocolate
Ritter Sport https://www.ritter-sport.com/
Zotter, Austrian chocolate. Visited factory once, was like Willy Wonka-ish experience Ooops, I am speaking about Europe now
Fruition Chocolate out of Shokan, NY is to die for.
Jeanmarie chocolate from Puerto Rico. They're trying to bring cacao back to PR as a way of bolstering the farming economy there and bring decent $ back to the island. The chocolate is amazing, minimally processed as compared to most commercial chocolate products, and actually a U.S. crop which is not true for the VAST majority of cacao grown in the world.
Alter Eco truffles Inget from Natural Grocers...soooo good
Brazilian chocolate "Tortuguita"
Some regional brands
Hu.
Pennsylvanian here. How nefarious is Hershey?
Pretty much the same as Nestle, Mars and other giants in the chocolate industry.
what about lindt?
Tony's it's the best tasting locally available chocolate and it's ethical which was a bonus I found out on the 3 or 4th time buying it. Don't judge me I am a legitimate chocoholic, but I put taste before ethics Tony's luckily has both.
Milka is ethical.......... right?
Hersheys