Chocolate makes us happy. We associate it with celebrations and treats. It releases endorphins in our brains and brings us joy.
I really believe that chocolate has the power to make everything feel just a little bit better!
Of course, not all chocolate is the same. It’s available in a dizzying array of options from the ultra sweet to the extra bitter, with all sorts of fillings and flavourings. But that’s just the public face of chocolate, we really need to look behind this façade to identify the true characteristics of our chocolate obsession.
There is an abundance of cheap chocolate, but the distressing truth is that child labour and slavery are still part of the cocoa industry, which is why we need to take ownership of our food choices.
There really is no such thing as a neutral purchase; every time we buy something, we are supporting the company that produces it and by our actions we are agreeing with their production methods, their corporate practices and their ethical record. Consumers have all the power – companies only sell stuff if we buy it; if we stop buying it they are forced to change or go out of business.
With a growing awareness of the effects of our food choices on our environment, our planet, our health, on other people in the world and on other animals who share this earth, more and more people are taking an holistic approach to consumerism and looking at the bigger picture of the products we buy.
I personally feel that Food Ethics is one of the biggest ethical factors in our lives, with immense and far-reaching consequences for all of us.
But just because we choose our products carefully doesn’t mean that we have to give up the joy that is chocolate! So do we really need more chocolate? The answer is a resounding “yes” – but we need different chocolate, we need chocolate that meets the demands of this ever growing cohort of discerning customers.
It's your choice. Buy less, buy better.
Irish chocolate, handmade.
Dairy free, gluten free, soya free, palm oil free, plastic free