Dispatches’ child labour programme extends Mondelez’s series of woes

This week could not have started worse for Mondelez. 

The Cadbury owner is facing accusations of child labour on West African cocoa plantations that supply its Cocoa Life scheme – a Fairtrade-supported programme intended to ensure ethical sourcing.

Tonight’s episode of Dispatches on Channel 4 will show children as young as 10 “carrying out illegal and dangerous work in gruelling conditions on cocoa farms in Ghana directly linked to Cadbury” claims the broadcaster.

Farmers describe “working long hours in searing temperatures for under £2 a day and struggling to feed their families” – which forces them “to use child labour on farms as they can’t afford to hire adult workers”.

Children, some of whom have been separated from their families, are shown by Dispatches “using sharp knives to open cocoa pods and plucking the pods from overhead using knives tied to long sticks” Channel 4 adds. None wear protective clothing, and one farmer describes how both his young daughters suffered serious injuries during the course of their labour.

Mondelez global chairman & CEO Dirk Van de Put declined to be interviewed by Dispatches, according to the broadcaster. However, the supplier issued a statement to say it was “deeply concerned by the incidents documented… We explicitly prohibit child labour in our operations and have been working relentlessly to take a stand against this, making significant efforts through our Cocoa Life programme to improve the protection of children in the communities where we source cocoa.”

The confectionery giant has committed “to investigating further so we can provide any support needed” it added. “As part of our Cocoa Life programme, we have child labour monitoring and remediation systems in place in Ghana, which means community members and NGO partners are trained and ready to provide assistance to vulnerable children.”

The Dispatches allegations are just the latest in a series of woes for Mondelez over recent weeks.

Last month, the supplier was among those criticised by Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for continuing operations in Russia – where it said it had scaled back “all non-essential activities”, discontinued new capital investments and suspended advertising media spending.

Zelenskyy’s condemnation was followed at the end of March by Mondelez’s Oreo production facility in Trostyanets, east Ukraine, suffering “significant damage” as Ukrainian forces forced back Russian invaders.

Between both controversies, Cadbury faced a consumer backlash for shrinkflation, cutting the weight of its bestselling chocolate bars by 10% without lowering their price.

And if all that wasn’t enough, the brand has also had to warn shoppers about a phishing scam circulating on WhatsApp and social media, claiming to offer free Cadbury Easter goodies.

The Dispatches report is almost certainly the most serious of these PR woes. And the complexity of the supply chain means it will be tricky to put right – after all, even ethical chocolate brand Tony’s was caught out last year. But complex or not, Mondelez will have to take action. The ball is now in its court.