Tell Cosi: "Life Should Be Delicious" For African Kids, Too

Cosi, a sandwich and salad-centric restaurant chain, serves a special summer treat: a table-sized s'mores kit that includes a bar of Hershey's chocolate. But the rampant abuse in the cocoa industry has ethical chocolate activists writing on the restaurant's Facebook wall today, asking them to switch to a Fair Trade certified chocolate brand. You can join them in asking Cosi for ethical s'mores.

Cocoa farmers typically live in poverty, and, as a result, instances of forced labor, human trafficking and the worst forms of child labor are found too often on cocoa farms in West Africa. Major chocolate companies committed to end these abuses in their supply chains almost ten years ago, but the exploitation continues. And of the major chocolate companies, Hershey has lagged far behind in fighting these abuses.  Now, after four and a half years of independent research on West African cocoa farms, a research team from Tulane University has published a report recommending that companies commit to using certified cocoa for chocolate products, particularly for the U.S. market, as a way to address labor rights abuses in their supply chains.

Cosi's motto is "Life Should be Delicious." If you believe that life should be delicious for the farmers and workers who labor to make our chocolate treats, as well as the children of Africa, take action on Facebook. Here's how:

1) Visit Cosi's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/getcosi) and "Like" the page;

2) Post a message like this on Cosi's Facebook page: "Cosi, I believe that "life should be delicious" for farmers, workers, and children too. Will you take action to stop child labor, forced labor and trafficking in your chocolate s'mores by switching to Fair Trade Certified cocoa? http://chn.ge/k7mhzM"

3) Make sure to sign the petition to Cosi and ask your friends to join!

S'mores are a symbol of the fun and freedom of summer for children, and that freedom should extend to all children, everywhere. It's time Cosi switched to Fair Trade chocolate for their s'mores.

Photo credit: Angela Tchou