The Challenges Facing the Chocolate Production - Essay Example

CHOCOLATE s Introduction Chocolate is among the few foods that many people feel passionate about. In most cases, this passion goes beyond the love for the sweetness of most candies or desserts. At body temperatures, chocolate melts that are part of its charm. Chocolate as we now recognise it, is the end product and result of many years of work and research but begins as a bean. The cocoa bean which is scientifically known as Theobroma Cacao L, originally grown in Central America, was tremendously used by the natives from the Olmec, the Maya, the Zapotec, the Moche and the Aztecs as their cultures. In modern English, chocolate originates from the Aztec phrase "cacaua atl" which means "cacao drink”. It also has another phrase xocolatl which meant "bitter water.” This crop is mainly grown I the tropical climates of West Africa, Asia, and Latin. In the past, chocolates used to be expensive and only the well-off families could afford it. However, this has been solved by the emergence of modern methods which has made this luxurious food affordable to all. Thesis This paper mainly focus on the challenges facing the chocolate production such as child labour, why people crave for it, and the health benefits it presents to the people and economy of a nation. The emergence of modern methods has tremendously promoted and made this luxurious food affordable to all. Cocoa Beans and Chocolate Currently, Bolivia is recognized the largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans worldwide. In this region, cocoa is grown using the organic farming system. In areas such as Beni, agroforestry have been put in place to help the indigenous and peasant farmers. Bolivia has a good cocoa that has been revealed to taste good and has a variety of flavours. This region has two types of cocoa namely the hybrid which develop with imported plantations. The other kind is the wild which is part of a system of natural forest and is mainly found in Amazon region and a smaller percentage. In developed nations, child labour in cocoa farms has been controlled and wiped out (Gregory, 2013). This has been done by developing policies that has helped in ending use of illegal child labour on farms supplying cocoa. Additionally, several organizations such as Anti-Slavery Internationals have also assisted in ending this problem. Pathos In the West Africa, cocoa is also grown in large scale in countries such as Ivory Coast and Ghana which supply more than 70 percent of the world’s cocoa. The beans are normally grown and sold to the majority of chocolate companies. In the past, there has been a widespread use of child labour and in some cases slavery on cocoa farms in West Africa which has tremendously increased the level of illiteracy in the West. The rise of many chocolate industries over the two years has increased the demand for cheap cacao. According the research done, cocoa farmers earn less than $2 per day which signifies poverty. As a result, they are forced to use child labour to keep their prices competitive. This has been so because most children in West Africa are surrounded by intense poverty and life frustrations that has made them begin working at a young age to help or support their families. In some extremes cases, children are sold to traffickers or farmers owners who lack prior knowledge of the working environment and lack of provisions for education. These children may end up not seeing their families’ for even years which brings a trauma to young children. Most of these children age between 12 to 16 years and in some case, even as young as five years old. 40 % of these children are estimated to be girls who may work for a few months or end up working in the cocoa farms through adulthood (Weil, 2005). Ethos The child labour in West Africa has resulted from a variety of political, social and economic issues which has given Africa a bad image worldwide. However, more organizations such as the anti-slavery should be established to help in curbing some of these challenges. The global cocoa industry has taken the responsibility to ensure it is not contributing to and profiting from child labour. The global chocolate manufacturers have also signed a voluntary agreement known as the Harkin-Engel Protocol which publicly recognized the problem of forced child labour in cocoa farms more so West Africa and devoted to a series of procedures to eliminate the problem. This has been done by the establishment of an international foundation, the international cocoa initiative which oversee their efforts as well as the formation of a verification system to make sure cocoa products we buy are free from forced manpower. Various Chocolate manufacturers have also taken an action, including the constitution of the Cadbury’s Cocoa Partnership to help community projects in cocoa farming communities in Ghana (Gregory, 2013). This will help solve the child labour problem and the frustrations cocoa farmers undergo. Logos According to CNN report on Cocoa-nomics, people crave for chocolate because of its taste and smell, and when placed in the mouth the melting sensation feels good. This feeling comes as a result of the chemicals released by the brain in response to the chocolate. Frequent consumption of chocolate makes the brain to releases neurotransmitters in the main dopamine into several areas of the brain. Dopamine is usually released whenever people do what they enjoy such as watching a funny film. This association with things perceived as pleasurable must be part of the charm of chocolate, so it is not just the melt factor, but memories based upon the particular things that a chocolate consumer has found to be pleasurable. This may vary in individuals and may alter during someone life time. According to Elliot & Anthony (2005), “the scientific research revealed that chocolate activated dopamine systems just as some drugs such as cocaine and smoking cigarettes” (p. 238). The recent research has also shown that the chocolate into the body that brings positive feels and which encourage craving, but this ingestion must include the feel of chocolate in the mouth and enjoying its taste which is important. The cocoa is an extremely fat food which contains 25% of fat, 45% carbohydrate and also has 7% protein. This crop contains a therapeutic property since it contains more natural antioxidants than green tea and red wine. The theobromine component in cocoa beans stimulates the blood circulation. Other than that, it also has a diuretic effect. According to Elliot & Anthony (2005), “chocolate contains theobromine which increases the heart rate which brings about arousal effect or feelings to individuals” (p. 142). The crops also contain caffeine which has a stimulating effect that makes the consumers feel wider awake. In some cases, prolonged consumption of chocolate may make one to focus better and work more efficiently due to the above component. According the research done on Chocolates Child Slaves on March 2014, it has been noticed that those who consume chocolate two or three times a week are not easily affected by heart diseases. This plant has a plethora of uses as in Central and South America, and it is widely used in the traditional treatment of a variety of disorders from malaria to dry lips. Conclusion In conclusion, chocolate has a tremendous effect in one’s life. However, the production of chocolate has presented a plethora of challenges to the society more so to the cocoa farming regions. Some of these include the child labour and slave trade which is seen to has transverse in West Africa. However, various measures have been implemented to curb this problem. The anti-slavery policy has tremendously helped many cocoa farming regions both social ally and economically as young children can now go to schools. Despite all these, chocolate has presented a plethora of benefits to various nations as it is added to the growth of the economy and treatment of some illness such as dry lips due to malaria. It is also clear that chocolate has a positive effect to human’s body making it healthier for consumption. The emergence of various chocolate companies has thus made this food affordable to everyone. References Gregory, A. (2013, October 31). Chocolate and Child Slavery: Say No to Human Trafficking this Holiday Season. Retrieved December 18, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-gregory/chocolate-and-child-slave_b_4181089.html Cocoa-nomics: Why chocolate really doesnt grow on trees - CNN.com. (2015, April 3). Retrieved May 21, 2015, from http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/13/world/africa/cocoa-nomics-does-chocolate-grow-on-trees/ Chocolates Child Slaves. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2014, from http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/category/chocolates-child-slaves/ Elliot J, S., & Anthony, E. (2005). The Cocoa Industry and Child Labour. Retrieved May 21, 2015, from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=1f6fe82d-7fb1-46d3-84e1-e1c74cc4c17b@sessionmgr114&vid=0&hid=118&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=buh&AN=18086817 Read More