The Dark Secret Within the World of Chocolate

Every year we spend millions of dollars on sweets, especially chocolate. During the holidays, like Valentine's Day, Halloween and Easter. From fun size candy bars to boxes of confectionary delight, we consume a huge amount of chocolate.
But have you ever wondered where the cocoa beans come from that went into that delicious dessert you're enjoying? Most of us don't. Because we trust that the businesses will make sure it's safe, that the laws will protect and that unions and the rights of workers will be ensured. But the reality is that the world isn't a very fair, safe or nice place at times. That some are greedy and quest for higher profits with no care for safety or moral and individual rights.

The shocking truth many people don't know, is that much of the chocolate they consume, is made by child workers forced into hard labor in West Africa. It's estimated that there are about 284,000 children who are being forced to work under dangerous and strenuous conditions on cocoa farms.These children are made to work long hours harvesting cocoa beans every single day. Many are stolen from their homes and sold as servants to cocoa farmers who need labor due to high demands. Although human trafficking is alone horrible and should be stopped, the added inhumanity of children, boys mostly from 12-16, but often younger, are sold into slave labor. Cocoa farms in the Cote d'Ivoire are especially implicated in violating children's human rights in two ways: they are involved in trafficking the children, often from Mali or surrounding areas, and also as the site of forced labor.

There's about 600,000 cocoa farms in Cote d'Ivoire and it's estimated that the children forced into slave labor on these farms is as high as 15,000. These children are subjected to inhuman living conditions, little food of any nutritional value, such as corn paste, on top of being overworked. Often these children are locked up at night to prevent escape, some older ones are made to work at night as well. Often the boys are beaten, whipped and forced to do nearly impossible tasks that are beyond their strength or abilities.

This didn't happen over night either, but slowly became the normal means of business. It was in the latter part of the 1970's that cocoa supplanted coffee as the major commodity, when a cocoa boom occurred as the government encouraged cultivation by offering various price incentives. The emphasis on cocoa production became entrenched in the economy to the extent that many farmers became dependent on cocoa for their livelihood. Today, a substantial one-third of the African economy is based on cocoa exports. But this dependency on the world market prices for cocoa has not bode well for farmers. Cocoa is considered one of the most unstable commodities in terms of fluctuation for market prices. Farmers can't control the world prices and natural conditions that affect cocoa yields, like droughts, floods or insects can have an effect on the farmers profits. This causes the farmers to seek cheap labor and even resort to slave labor as ways to cut costs.

What makes it harder is the secrecy of this practice and the way the farmers seek to hide what is going on if anyone tries to come visit the farm. One method that can help is for companies to commit to only purchasing cocoa beans from free trade certified merchants and suppliers. There's also more information at the links below.

http://www.laborrights.org/stop-child-forced-labor/cocoa-campaign/news/the-child-slavery-behind-your-chocolate

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/155/343/985/?z00m=20109435

End of the Year Events for Chocolate Lover's

Always try to get tickets early, some are cheaper before the event, while tickets often go quickly, any special VIP tickets sellout even faster. Try to plan out your chocolate travel to drop in to as many events as possible if you are able to. Make the most of your time, get to experience the tasteful creations of a wide selection of Chocolatiers.

October 15th, 2011
The 9th Annual Kona Chocolate Festival will be held at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort Hawaii.
For more information and tickets check out their website. http://www.konachocolatefestival.com/

October 15th - 16th, 2011
The 5th Annual 2011 Austin Texas Chocolate Festival will be held at the Norris Conference Center.
Tickets are available now. Check out their website for more information.  http://austinchocolatefestival.com

October 16th, 2011
2ND  Annual Southern New England Chocolate Show at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Warwick, RI
This year they are teaming up with the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation, to help fight breast cancer.
For more information go to their website.
(NOTE: There's music on site, check volume of your speakers before loading.)
http://southernnewenglandchocolateshow.com/Home_Page.php

October 21th, 2011
2011 6th Annual Toronto Chocolate Ball - Cocoa Carnival on Friday at the Palais Royale Ballroom.
The event will be held in Toronto, to benefit Prostate and Breast Cancer Initiatives.
Save $25 on Early Bird tickets! This is reserved for the first 50 tickets! For ticket information go here:
https://secure.ticketpro.ca/achat_PRO21JS11.html?lang=en&aff=jco
Or check out their website at http://www.thechocolateball.com/toronto/

October 22nd - 23rd, 2011
The Northwest Chocolate Festival held at Seattle Center in the Northwest Rooms.
For ticket information: http://nwchocolate.strangertickets.com/
To get more information about the event, go to their website. http://nwchocolate.com/

November 4th - 5th, 2011
2011 O.C. Chocolate Festival at Fountain Valley Sports Park & Recreation Center, Orange County
For more information about this event and get tickets, see their website.
http://occhocolatefestival.com/home

November 5th, 2011
The 23rd Annual Chocolate, Wine & Roses Festival at The Chateau at Incline Village.
This important fundraiser raises money for two non-profits that help keep Tahoe SAFE and FED.
More information can be found at their website. http://tahoesafealliance.org/chocolate-festival/

November 5th, 2011
The 27th annual Fantasies in Chocolate in Reno NV at the Downtown Reno Ballroom.
This is a black-tie fundraiser that benefits the RGJ Foundation.
For ticket and event information check their website. (NOTE: VIP Table & Tickets are Soldout.)
 http://www.fantasiesinchocolate.com/

November 10th - 13th, 2011
The 14TH Annual New York Chocolate Show will take place at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.
Tickets are available at http://chocolateshow2011.eventbrite.com/
Known as the chocolate hub of North America, you can get more information at their website.
http://www.chocolateshow.com/

November 12th, 2011
9TH ANNUAL CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Kailua.
Proceeds from the Chocolate Extravaganza will benefit the outreach programs of Family Promise of Hawai'i
& Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
Get ticket and event information at their website. http://www.emmanuelkailua.com/#/chocolate-extravaganza

November 13th, 2011
2011 Bay Area Fall Luxury Chocolate Salon at the Fort Mason Conference Center in San Francisco.
To get ticket information about this event and more details, visit their website.
http://fallchocolatesalon.com/

November 19th - 20th, 2011
The Festival of Chocolate in West Palm Beach, FL will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Get more information about this event and tickets at their website.
http://westpalm.festivalofchocolate.com/

FOR THOSE LIVING OUTSIDE THE U.S.

10 -16 October 2011
Chocolate Week 2011 in London, UK
http://www.chocolateweek.co.uk/

15 - 16 October 2011
Chocolate Unwrapped Show in London, UK
http://www.chocolateweek.co.uk/chocolate-unwrapped/

14 - 23 October 2011
18th Eurochocolate International Chocolate Exhibition in Perugia, Italy
http://www.eurochocolate.com/en/home.html

20 - 24 October 2011
Salon Du Chocolat Paris Expo in Porte De Versailles, Paris
http://www.salonduchocolat.fr

3 - 6 November 2011
Café & Chocolat 2011 in Bucharest, Romania
http://www.cafe-chocolat.ro/index.php?limba2=en

11 - 13 November 2011
Choco-Late Festivals in Bruges, Belgium
http://www.brugesinfo.com/bruges-chocolate-festival.php

Salon du Chocolate Vannes in Vannes, France
fr site - Go here
en translation - Go here

24 - 27 November 2011
Salon du Chocolat Cairo in Cairo, Egypt
http://www.salonduchocolategypte.com/en/

Second Tabasco Chocolate Festival in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
http://www.icco.org/about/event.aspx?Id=ouh11873

Salon du Chocolat et des Gourmandises Avignon in Avignon, France
Website

29 - 30 November 2011
Confection Expo London in London, UK
http://www.confectionexpo.co.uk/

9 - 11 December 2011
Chocolate Festival at Southbank Centre in London, UK
http://www.festivalchocolate.co.uk/festivals/london/

Updates, Decisions & White Chocolate

Greetings, things have been very busy these last few days. I've been busy with the website, as well as helping to gather up some more recipes.

I've been trying to decide if white chocolate, the least healthy, would be included in the site. I've some friends the love it and my younger sister likes Cookies and Cream Chocolate Bars. I used to like white chocolate pretzels till I tried the carob covered ones. I prefer those now. Which made me wonder if I should include carob items.

The debate is still on on whether white chocolate is even real chocolate. According to the FDA, prior to 2002 "white chocolate" cannot legally be called chocolate because it contains no cocoa powder, a component of chocolate. Yet, because it contains cocoa butter, some argued that it is still a chocolate.

But not all white chocolates are created equally, meaning that some are worse health-wise.
A good white chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids, vanilla, and lecithin. When buying white chocolate always check that it contains cocoa butter in the ingredients. Some inferior brands often use vegetable fat instead since it's cheaper.

Another clue when choosing White chocolate is to check the coloring. Good white chocolate made with cocoa butter is ivory-colored. If it's white-colored, then it's most likely made with vegetable fat. When in doubt, try asking. But still use your own judgement and taste it.

Remember, according to the current FDA ruling, white chocolate must contain at least 20% cocoa butter, 14% total milk solids, and 3.5% milk fat, and no more than 55% sugar or other sweeteners to officially be considered chocolate.

Unfortunately, since the cocoa liquor or cocoa solids are not recombined as with other chocolates, white chocolate does not contain the antioxidant properties. Also it doesn't contain other ingredients, such as thiamine, riboflavin, theobromine, phenylethylamine, and serotonin. So it's not "healthy" like the other chocolates.

White chocolate is rich and creamy, with a sweet and subtle flavor that complements other ingredients. That's why a triple chocolate muffin or cookie is so delicious. The blending of these three chocolates makes it so yummy. I best stop before I get hungry.

Well, the decision is still up in the air for now. I think that I will try to include white chocolate, since so many do like it. But I will also try to be sure that it's organic and true white chocolate.

Still have a lot to do and it's slow going getting the coding set up. I wish I knew some of it so I could help. My mom's great at this stuff, but I worry that she pushes herself. She's disabled & waiting to start therapy for some injuries to her back and knee. She's always overdoing stuff instead of asking for help. So I have to watch that she gets food and sleep or she'd be pushing to finish the site.

Her health comes first, so things will be done, but not at that cost. I'm sure that you'll will be happy with the results. I know that I'm really looking forward to launching the site, it's coming along great! Thanks to everyone that understands and is patiently waiting for opening day.

Stay sweet, till we meet again.