Home > Press releases > 2002
05 Dec 2002
School children will today deliver a special Christmas present to
confectionery giant Cadbury calling for LINDANE-free chocolate under
the Christmas tree this year. The pupils will also hand over a petition
signed by more than 3,000 youngsters from around the country, demanding
real food [1].
The youngsters from Generation Earth, a youth campaigning group linked to Birmingham Friends
of the Earth, are targeting the chocolate manufacturer following recent tests showing that
traces of the pesticide lindane were found in Cadbury's Dream chocolate bars [2].
Lindane has been banned in the EU but is still used by
some cocoa-growers in parts of West Africa
.
It has been linked to
breast cancer, birth defects and damage to the nervous system [3]
Friends of the Earth is calling on Cadbury to ensure lindane is removed
from their supply chain by switching to agreements with individual growers and co-operatives
so it can be sure that they do not use the pesticide.
Cadbury currently buys cocoa on the spot market, which includes cocoa from growers
who may still be using lindane. By ensuring the growers receive
a fair price for their beans, Cadbury can also help West African farmers
find alternative, ways of producing cocoa which are less dependent on dangerous pesticides,
and ensure that working conditions are safe.
The environmental group is also calling on the multinational company to take action
to help collect unused stocks of lindane in West Africa [4], to ensure
that the pesticide is no longer used on cocoa crops, or on other
crops,and to finance research into non-chemical pest control for a range of
crops grown in the region.
The major chocolate manufacturers have so far failed to respond to concerns about
the chemicals used in their products, or criticisms about exploitation of workers.
In contrast, the Co-op has recently switched its entire range of chocolate bars
to Fairtrade by sourcing cocoa through the Day Chocolate Company.
Friends of the Earth Real Food campaigner Pete Riley said:
"As a socially-responsible company, Cadbury must take action to prevent this dangerous pesticide
appearing in their products. Lindane is a persistent and dangerous chemical which
builds up in children's bodies. It also damages the health of the
farm workers in West Africa. Cadbury's can act in everybody's interest by
buying directly from suppliers who are lindane-free."
Fran Higginson from Generation Earth said:
"Everyone likes eating chocolate, but we want to choose chocolate that won't harm
the environment, the people who grow it, or us. Chocolate should be
pesticide-free, GM-free and fairly traded."
Friends of the Earth Youth and Education Officer Karen Jesnick said:
"Thousands of young people have signed this petition calling for real food.
They don't want to put their health at risk by eating chocolate bars
and other foods containing pesticides. Cadbury's should listen to what their customers
have to say and give everyone a present with lindane-free chocolate this Christmas
time."
[1] The petition was collected as part of Friends of the Earth's biteback
campaign. Young people from across the country signed up asking food
manufacturers and retailers to provide "real" snack food. This included
real burgers and chocolate that are both GM and pesticide free.
[2] The November quarterly report from the Pesticides Residues Working
Group of the Pesticide Safety Directorate showed the presence of lindane
in Cadbury's Dream.
[3] Report for the EU by the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
1998
[3] Lindane is used by farmers to protect cocoa trees from the capsid
bug.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
