Partly vegan

More fairly produced chocolate Easter bunnies on the market

The organizations Südwind and Global 2000 tested 39 chocolate Easter bunnies (symbolic image).

(Bild: APA/dpa/Lino Mirgeler)

The human rights organization Südwind and the environmental protection organization Global 2000 have now put 39 chocolate Easter bunnies and other figures under the microscope. The result: most of the chocolate products scored well, eleven did not pass the test for social and ecological sustainability. 

These include well-known brands such as Ferrero, Mondelez, Mars and Lindt & Sprüngli. One example of the poor results is that many of the cocoa beans purchased by Austrian companies come from Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Child and forced labor are problems in both countries, as are extremely low incomes for cocoa farmers. "Consumers have a right to know the conditions under which their chocolate is produced. This requires independent monitoring of production conditions (...)", said Gudrun Glocker from Südwind.

Consumers have a right to know the conditions under which their chocolate is produced. This requires independent controls.

Gudrun Glocker, Südwind

More than 70 percent have a seal of approval
A total of 39 products were tested that were available in Austrian shops up to March 8. More than 70 percent of them have at least one independent seal of approval. In addition to the Fairtrade seal, nine chocolate Easter bunnies also bear the EU organic seal. The test winners are the EZA chocolate bunny from Weltläden, the Billa organic Easter bunnies and the Veggie and Natur Pur organic Easter bunnies from Spar. They also include the organic Natura chocolate bunny from Hofer, the Riegelein organic Fairtrade Easter bunny and the dark chocolate bunnies from Berger Confiserie.

Vegan did not always do well
"It is very pleasing that the range of eco-fair chocolate bunnies continues to grow. Companies are responding to consumers' growing awareness of the need for more socially and ecologically sustainable chocolate," say Gudrun Glocker from Südwind and Lisa Grasl from Global 2000 in a press release.

The ingredients, such as cocoa, can come from questionable sources.

Lisa Grasl, Global 2000

Chocolate products without milk are a further boost for greater animal welfare. This time, the team scrutinized nine vegan Easter bunnies and awarded three of them the highest marks. One vegan product failed completely - the Hello bunny Vegan from Lindt & Sprüngli. "The ingredients, such as the cocoa, can come from questionable sources (...)", says Lisa Grasl. The annual sustainability check is intended as a decision-making aid when making a purchase.