The Delicious and Dark Side of the Easter Bunny

By Theresa

The Delicious Side

Easter is one of the most commercialized holidays of the year. And I love every chocolate bunny and tasty treat that comes along with it. While a part of me wants to avoid all the corporate trappings of the holiday, I can’t help but be swayed by all the cute decorations and pretty pastel colours.

I mean, what’s not to love about pink fluffy bunnies?

As I’ve already devoured a tub of bunny-shaped gummies and am on my second chocolate bunny, I thought it might be a good idea to check out some creative recipes for Easter candy.

PEEPsicles
Frozen PEEPS® create a new delicious texture, especially when covered in chocolate, coconut and chopped nuts.

Macaroon Cookie Nests
This recipe uses up your chocolate eggs to create adorable bird (or bunny?) nest cookies.

Chocolate Fondue
Who can resist the deadly combination of marshmallow PEEPS® AND chocolate? I think I’m going to make s’mores from this recipe.

The Dark Side

I was feeling pretty good about this post until I stumbled upon the article, “Your Easter Chocolate Supports Slavery” on Relevant Magazine that exposes the lesser known side of the Easter bunny. After reading this article, my tummy started feeling funny (perhaps from too much chocolate, or maybe from the guilt that was creeping into my conscience).

This article focuses on Julie Clawson’s book, Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of our Daily Choices. Most of the world’s cocoa beans are from poor West African nations. The beans are then sold to large chocolate corporations; delicious treats are then sold to unsuspecting consumers like me.

Many of the cocoa farms defy regulations and are a breeding ground where an “estimated 284,000 children are working on cocoa farms in hazardous tasks such as using machetes and applying pesticides and insecticides without the necessary protective equipment.”

To read the full article, click here.

I’ve heard of fair-trade coffee, but was blissfully unaware of slave-free chocolate. Now I don’t know what to do with the rest of my Easter candy.