Whole Foods response
We do not take the concern over child labor or slave labor lightly, and we are currently in ongoing conversations with Hershey’s about its existing social accountability programs for its two chocolate brands we carry nationally, Dagoba and Scharffen Berger. Whole Foods Market is removing Scharffen Berger chocolate from our shelves pending receiving further information from Hershey’s; Dagoba chocolate products, certified by the Rainforest Alliance, will remain in the stores...Over the last several years, we have encouraged dozens of brands, including many of our major chocolate brands, to get fair trade certified. We have launched and promoted dozens of fair trade chocolate products, including Alter Eco, Divine Chocolate, Equal Exchange, Endangered Species, Green & Blacks, Lily’s Chocolate, Newman’s Own and Theo Chocolate.