Cosi's Silent in Response to Facebook Fans' Concerns about Child Labor

by Tim Newman · 2011-07-12 09:55:00 UTC
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For much of last week, fans of the restaurant chain Cosi took over the company's Facebook page asking for Fair Trade chocolate from the restaurant they love. With child labor, forced labor and trafficking continuing to be widespread in West Africa's cocoa sector, consumers want Cosi to use Fair Trade Certified cocoa for its popular tableside s'more treats. While Cosi is incredibly responsive to customer comments about various menu items and their dining experiences, the company has remained silent about its efforts to stop severe exploitation in its chocolate.

Last week, we called on Cosi fans to tell the company that "life should be delicious" for cocoa farmers who currently live in poverty. So many people joined in that Fair Trade supporters completely flooded Cosi's Facebook wall. A common theme in all the posts was that while customers love many Cosi products, they want to know that their favorite lunch spot is doing the right thing to

Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist wrote, "The signature salad dressing really is magical. Just think about what amazing stuff Cosi could make with Fair Trade chocolate!" Meredith Larson said, "I'm a fairly regular customer at one of your DC cafes and would like to try the s'mores but have not because of the chocolate you use. Hershey's has an abysmally low rating by NGOs concerned with fair labor and child labor. Please use Fair Trade chocolate in your operations."

When customers left comments about other food and service issues, Cosi responded quickly to their concerns. However, when it came to addressing violations of international labor rights connected to its products, the company was notably silent. That caused Jane Affonso to write, "I notice you answer the posts with small complaints about service time but are silent about the serious issue of serving Hershey's chocolate which involves slave and child labor. Is Cosi checking into a change in policy so that we can enjoy your delicious food with a clear conscience? If eating s'mores is ever free of guilt! Yum. By the way, fair trade chocolate tastes better than Hersheys."

In addition, Cosi was unresponsive to calls and e-mails from Change.org requesting a comment on its cocoa sourcing policies for this post. Cosi has not responded to the Change.org petition signed by over 500 concerned consumers even over 50 days after the action was launched.

Do you think Cosi should get away with ignoring abusive child labor, forced labor and trafficking in its chocolate products? If not, join us in continuing to post messages on Facebook. You can find instructions on how to take action on Facebook here. Don't forget to sign our petition to Cosi and spread the action to friends through e-mail, Facebook and Twitter.

Photo credit: Ed Yourdon

Tim Newman is a campaigns assistant at the International Labor Rights Forum. He also works on the Stop Firestone campaign.

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