Feastables and the Chocolate Industry’s Dilemma

Mr. Beast aka James Stephen Donaldson is the most subscribed person on YouTube and is one of the biggest internet personalities he is also know for being a philanthropist. James has a huge fan following and he has used this fan following to make millions through his chocolate brand Feastables but have you ever wondered if this chocolate is ethically sourced?

One of the primary concerns is the source of the cocoa used in Feastables chocolate. The brand previously claimed on its website that it was committed to ethically sourcing its cocoa. Still, this information has since been removed, raising questions about the transparency of its supply chain. Further complicating matters is that Feastables co-founder Jim Murray was previously the CEO of RXBAR. This company faced controversy over false advertising and misleading ingredient claims on its packaging.

Additionally, Feastables has been affiliated with the Rainforest Alliance, an organization that certifies cocoa farms for sustainability and ethical practices. However, the Rainforest Alliance has faced significant criticism and legal challenges regarding its effectiveness in preventing child labor and other human rights abuses in the cocoa industry. Rainforest Alliance is also affiliated with companies like Hershey’s, which have been accused of using child labor and slavery in their cocoa supply chains. This raises concerns about the credibility of the Rainforest Alliance’s certification process. Feastabes also tried to do a sticker sweep challenge but they quickly removed the promotion as it encouraged vandalism and the spreading of garbage.

Moreover, the organic milk used in Feastables bars also comes with its own ethical concerns, as the high demand for organic dairy products has been linked to increased instances of cow cruelty, as farmers struggle to meet the stringent requirements of organic certification. While Feastables has not been directly implicated in these issues, the use of organic milk in their chocolate bars means that consumers should approach the brand’s ethical claims with some skepticism. Without clear transparency around their dairy supply chain, there is no way for customers to verify that the milk is truly sourced in an ethical and humane manner. Overall, the ethical concerns surrounding the organic milk in Feastables bars are yet another reason why the brand needs to provide more information about its sourcing practices and supply chain.

The issues surrounding Feastables are not isolated to this one brand they are symptomatic of a much larger problem within the chocolate industry as a whole. Numerous reports have documented the widespread use of child labor and even outright slavery in the production of cocoa, particularly in West Africa, where a significant portion of the world’s cocoa is grown. According to a 2015 report by Tulane University, an estimated 2.1 million children were engaged in hazardous work in cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, the two largest cocoa-producing countries. These children are often forced to work long hours, exposed to dangerous pesticides, and denied access to education.

While Mr. Beast has built a massive following and brand empire, the ethical practices behind his Feastables chocolate brand remain in doubt. As awareness of these issues grows, it is up to companies like Feastables, as well as the chocolate industry as a whole, to take steps to address these concerns and ensure that their products are truly ethical and sustainable.