Games

How MrBeast and Feastables are fighting child labor in West Africa

BBG News

MrBeast showcases on social platforms that he’s employing his chocolate company, Feastables, to combat child labor in West African cocoa farms by adhering to Fairtrade practices, providing education, and ensuring fair wages.

MrBeast, through his company Feastables, has revealed three essential steps they’re implementing to combat child labor in cocoa farms spread across West Africa. This declaration follows roughly two months since the popular YouTuber expressed his commitment to promoting ethical and sustainable cocoa sourcing on a podcast, where he showed great enthusiasm for this cause.

As a passionate chocoholic, I’ve often pondered about the sourcing practices of the chocolate industry, particularly concerning the prevalence of child labor in cocoa farms. It’s become increasingly clear that big chocolate brands need to step up and ensure ethical practices throughout their supply chains. Inspiringly, MrBeast aims to leverage his influence and his company Feastables to disrupt this long-standing norm.

The video starts off with two striking pieces of information presented by MrBeast: approximately 1.5 million kids are working as child laborers right now, and an alarming 45% of children in cocoa-producing areas engage in illegal labor.

In the video, MrBeast mentions some statistics, which come from a report published by NORC at the University of Chicago in October 2020. This report reveals that about 60% of the world’s cocoa is cultivated in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Additionally, it states that approximately 1.56 million children are involved in child labor within these two countries specifically, which is a truly astounding number.

The report mentions a survey conducted in 2018/2019 focusing on Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, which approximated that 45% of children were engaged in child labor on cocoa farms. This figure was 34% in Cote d’Ivoire and a staggering 55% in Ghana.

The survey from 2018/2019 about Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire that the report cites found that an estimated 45% of children were involved in child labor on cocoa farms. This percentage was 34% in Cote d’Ivoire and a high 55% in Ghana.

I’d prefer to be recognized for our efforts towards ending child labor rather than my YouTube channel. I am deeply committed to this cause.

MrBeast on his mission to combat child labor (Via

MrBeast Twitter
)

How Feastables is fighting child labor in cocoa farms

As stated by MrBeast, Feastables have embarked on no less than three ventures aimed at assisting children working in cocoa farms across West Africa.

1. Paying a Living Income to Cocoa Farmers

“We pay 100% of our cocoa farmers a Living Income Reference Price”

MrBeast

The Living Income Reference Price is a benchmark established by Fairtrade, serving as a guideline to determine the minimum income required for a farmer to maintain a reasonable living standard, covering essentials such as food, shelter, education, and healthcare. Additionally, it factors in local expenses, household size, and typical farm output. MrBeast discusses this in his video.

Starting from January 2025, the Living Income Reference Price for cocoa has been raised in both Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire, with the new price set to be implemented by October 2025.

  • $2.68 per kilo in Ghana
  • $2.80 per kilo in Côte d’Ivoire

Though MrBeast didn’t reveal the number in the video, you can find it on the Fairtrade site instead.

2. Using 100% Fairtrade Certified Cocoa

All our cocoa is guaranteed by the highest ethical certification, Fairtrade. This gold-standard label ensures stringent guidelines are followed to safeguard the income and wellbeing of small farmer cooperatives and their laborers.

MrBeast

In a recent video, MrBeast highlighted that all cocoa employed for manufacturing Feastables chocolate is certified Fairtrade. This means that the product’s production adheres to ethical standards, ensuring fair treatment and equitable pay for the farmers and laborers involved in its creation. Notably, items with this certification are widespread across Europe (like Germany, France, and the U.K.) as well as North America.

You can spot a Fairtrade product by the following symbol:

3. Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS)

The farms that Feastables collaborate with are currently adopting Child Monitoring and Educational Intervention Programs, allowing children to leave the farms and attend school instead.

MrBeast

In simpler terms, the last thing MrBeast talked about in the video was regarding Child Safety and Intervention Technology, which might be less familiar if you’re not well-versed in this specific area.

These systems strive not only to locate and recognize instances of child labor, but also to address the underlying problems that lead to it, such as poverty or insufficient education. Upon discovering a child laborer, a Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS), like Nestle’s CLMRS, can assist in providing them with school materials, transportation, money for tuition, and even family training on alternative income opportunities.

Such systems play a crucial role in breaking the cycle, demonstrating that MrBeast’s long-term strategy is aimed at addressing a significant issue within cocoa farms, particularly in West Africa.

A topic close to MrBeast’s heart

MrBeast has previously expressed concern about the widespread use of child labor within the chocolate industry and seems deeply invested in this matter. In a podcast interview on Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett back in February, MrBeast revealed an alarming figure.

He expressed disbelief when he learned that nearly half of the workforce on West African cocoa farms is comprised of children. Initially, he thought it couldn’t possibly be true. However, as he delved deeper and deeper into the issue, his reaction was, ‘Wow, this is shocking!’

In addition, he remembered a discussion with a significant American vendor. When he enquired whether they could increase their payment to guarantee no child labor in cocoa production, the answer was just “No.” This response, according to him, sparked anger and further fueled his resolve to reform the system.

MrBeast stated in February, “Our goal should be to hit a billion dollars in annual revenue swiftly, yet maintaining ethical standards and profitability.” He further explained, “Profitability is crucial because it demonstrates we’ve achieved scale ethically. It’s not that it can’t be done; it’s simply that some people choose not to do it.

MrBeast closed the topic by saying he hoped he could shine a light on the issue using his platform.

More about Feastables

Feastables is a chocolate company founded jointly by YouTube sensation MrBeast and ex-president of RxBar, Jim Murray. Starting off in the United States, it’s now available in various countries including the UK, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, and India.

To gain insights into Feastables’ ethical sourcing practices, visit their main site. Alternatively, make ethical choices in your chocolate purchases by checking for the Fairtrade certification during your regular shopping trips.

Read More

2025-04-12 03:41

Previous post A lonely woman sees something she can’t unsee in ‘Gazer,’ an industrious thriller
Next post Old friends on different trajectories reunite in ‘Sacramento,’ a comedy with wisdom