To Chocolate or not to Chocolate.

Everyone who loves chocolate raise their hands. I have only met a handful of people who don't like, and I mean won't even eat a piece, chocolate. I know a number of people who, like myself, must watch how much chocolate they consume. I have Type 2 Diabetes. I know there are chocolates and chocolate recipes that are suitable for people with diabetes. I also know that a small bit of chocolate won't do me any harm, now and then, if I am eating properly, but I'd rather not keep it around the house. I like it way too much. This decision not to buy chocolate may be just as well, because the sugar content of this heavenly treat is not the only reason to stop and think before buying. It could be that one of our favourite foods is not so heavenly after all.

Now before you panic or throw things at me, if the chocolate that you are eating falls under the Fair Trade label then all is well. Fair trade chocolate will carry the Fair trade label. So you will know if what you are purchasing is actually a fair trade item.

People sometimes tell me that I am too political. This frequently happens when the conversation turns to food, after all, they are just eating a chocolate bar. I generally reply that all that we do is political, in that it has consequences that go far beyond what we can actually sense. When I think of the possibilities that I have read about during my research, I find it difficult to accept that a chocolate bar is just a chocolate bar.

What I want people to think about is this, the choices we make while shopping do matter. We can make a difference simply by refusing to buy anything that is not properly labelled so that, when it comes to food, not only do we know what ingredients are going into our bodies, but we also know how and where the item was made. When you shop ask questions. This is why I recommend that people do their shopping at locally owned and operated stores. You can talk to the owner. You can influence the owners' buying decisions and exercise your true consumer power. Just think helping build a better world by munching on a brownie.

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