Four Corners investigates the hidden human cost behind everyday food products
Australians consume more than 160,000 tonnes of chocolate each year, but the origins of cocoa and the conditions faced by those producing it remain largely unknown to consumers.
In the second instalment of Four Corners’ investigation, Gold Walkley winner Adele Ferguson follows food supply chains from cocoa farms in West Africa to fruit farms in Australia, examining the human cost behind products found on supermarket shelves.
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The program explores the workers involved in producing everyday food and examines the claims and certifications that encourage consumers to believe their purchases have been sourced responsibly.
The investigation begins in West Africa, where much of the world’s cocoa is grown, taking viewers inside the multibillion-dollar cocoa industry. It examines ethical certification schemes and sustainability claims displayed on chocolate packaging, asking whether they reflect conditions on the ground.
With rare access to remote communities and cocoa farms in Ghana, Four Corners investigates whether these assurances stand up to scrutiny.
The program then returns to Australia, where Adele Ferguson traces fruit sold in supermarkets back to the farms where it is grown. The investigation includes accounts from workers who allege exploitation is also occurring within Australia’s agricultural sector.
Spanning two continents, the investigation asks why worker exploitation continues despite decades of commitments to eliminate it, and who is ultimately responsible for ensuring the food bought by Australians is produced fairly.
Four Corners – Duped: Food Exposed – Part Two airs Monday 3 August at 8.30pm on ABC TVand ABC iview.
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