Crystal Smith, Managing Editor
During the romantic holiday of Valentine’s Day, many people enjoy chocolates without knowing where it comes from. Valentine’s Day dates all the way back to the Roman Times and is named after two different Roman Saints, both known as “Valentine.” Although both men’s names were not connected to romance, by the 1840s, the concept of Valentine’s Day as a holiday to celebrate romance had taken over most English-speaking countries.
A few centuries later, chocolates became a symbol of Valentine’s Day for many lovers around the world. Hence, today it is barely impossible to roam any kind of retail store during the month of February without seeing some sort of red or pink chocolate candy.
Companies such as Hershey’s began retail operations of their products during Valentine’s season throughout the year 1962. Their best seller, Kisses, that we have all grown to love, was sold mainly in the United States during 1962.
“I enjoy many types of sweet treats during Valentines. However, my favorite candy or chocolate bar during Valentine’s season would be a Hershey’s Chocolate bar,” Berkel Anderson, a sophomore majoring in bio-medical health sciences, said.
Starasia Sinor, a sophomore majoring in cybersecurity, stated, “My all-time favorite chocolate bar during Valentine’s would have to be Snickers.”
Yamaris Ortiz Santiago, a sophomore majoring in criminal justice, mentioned, “If I had to choose one chocolate or candy bar to enjoy on February 14th, it would have to be M&Ms.”
While Ortiz Santiago preferred M&Ms, Emilio Cueto, a junior majoring in criminal justice stated, “My go-to chocolate during the season of love would have to be Kisses.”
Like Anderson, most interviewees had no idea where their favorite chocolate candy came from.
Research reveals that Hershey’s Chocolate actually comes from a manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania. Most of their cocoa comes from West Africa, and while it is unknown to many, according to The Food Revolution Network, Hershey’s receives most of its products from a region in Africa that is widely known for involuntary child labor.
Hershey’s reported during 2010, a 54 percent spike in profits and proclaimed that it was all because of enhanced “supply-chain efficiencies.” However, studies from The Food Revolution Network revealed that because of Hershey’s previous devotion to purchasing cocoa from farms in Africa that employed cheap child labor, they have witnessed much of an increase in profits and a decrease in expenses.
As of now, according to Ferrero Sustainability, Ferrero has improved their labor practices to improve cocoa farming sustainability. They have done this by ensuring that all of their cocoa is verified by Fair Trade and Cocoa Horizons. They utilize effective technology to map farms and sourcing areas and support local farmers with their sustainability programs.
Moreover, some alternative sustainable brands that many can enjoy during the season of passion include Cadbury and Nestle. These brands are more sustainable options to savor during this romantic season because of their internationally recognized certifications and reformed labor practices.
For example, during 2009, Cadbury Dairy Milk in the United Kingdom was one of the first significant brands to certify all of their chocolate as fair trade. In a similar fashion, Mars Inc. ensures that all of its cocoa is certified by Rainforest Alliance to ascertain that all products obtained are free from child or forced labor. On the other hand, Godiva Chocolate does not have any labor certification, while Ferrero also does not have sustainably grown ingredients.
It is seen that here at Saint Leo University, we have a few people who prefer to enjoy chocolates such as Hershey’s, Twix, M&Ms, and Snickers during Valentine’s Day. However, during this romantic holiday, it is imperative to have some knowledge about where your chocolate comes from!
