Sweet Tooth, Sour Ethics

Time to Ditch Nestlé but not the Taste Yet

What do a Coffee Crisp, a KitKat, and a corrupt multinational have in common? More than just sugar and crunch. Nestlé, the world's most boycotted food company, continues to sweeten its profits through bitter practices — from stealing water in drought-stricken nations to sourcing cocoa tainted by child exploitation. And while the wrappers may change for Halloween, the truth behind the treat remains ugly.

Nestlé always seems to be mentioned by Salaaz one way or another for its long-standing controversy and unethical practices, from misleading advertising practices to being honourably mentioned by genocide-condoning Prime Minister Netanyahu for making contributions towards Israel’s economy. But it cannot be shortlisted on the scale of horrible for its ongoing practices of unethical sourcing.

• Nestlé conducts extensive deforestation with tons of land deforested worldwide 

• Nestlé steals water from drought-prone countries for free, like Pakistan 

• Nestlé has extensive reports of child labour and conflict deaths in some of Nestlé's palm oil and cocoa extraction locations 

I know we love when someone offers us a box of the Nestlé chocolate quartet with never enough coffee crisps. But we will have to reconsider our Halloween, or yearly, treats.

Luckily there are near-identical dupes that will not make you miss the taste of your favourite chocolate brand. 

KitKat Replacement: IFFCO’s Group’s Tiffany Break

• IFFCO’s Tiffany Break works towards using getting towards 100% free of deforestation and unethical palm oil extraction. 

• Near-identical taste to KitKat

In light of Mondelez International, a company previously shamed in our newsletter for its support towards Israel and roots of child slavery, the boycott towards the popular gummy-like candies Sour Patch Kids remains. However, a yummier, chewier, and more ethical brand is easily available all over the GTA.

Sour Patch Replacement: Cheery Chews

They said your naseeb will come when you least expect it… mine came in a resealable bag of halal gummies. Cheery Chews is the Canadian confection company founded by Naseeb International.

• Product availability in over 50 different locations throughout Ontario 

• Gummies are free from the top ten allergens. 

• Brands include: Gummy Rush, Britiain Gummies, and Marsh and Marlow

• Non-GMO verified

A Bitter Truth to Remember: Sweet Junk, Sour Outcome

Although we know what foods are healthy and what foods are better to avoid, it is easy to understate the true nature of potential harms caused by processed foods. Chewing a coca leaf is not addicting, but only when it is processed to be highly potent does it turn into cocaine and eventually crack. Similarly, natural foods can be high in sugar, like fruits, or high in fats, like meat, but not together and at potent levels like ultra-processed foods. This is what leaves ultra-processed foods similar to that of an addiction. 

• Companies like Nestlé, Kraft, and PepsiCo use a concept called “bliss point,” which is the perfect combination of fats, sugars, and salts designed to hijack the brain's reward system and provide the maximum dopamine release. 

• A study with over 10,000 individuals showed that consumption of ultra-processed foods over 8 years literally shrinks the brain and causes cognitive decline.

• Many food-grade chemicals not originally designed for human consumption are unknown and not properly researched to rule out their links to cancer and other health consequences, such as titanium dioxide, which is in processed candies, store-bought baked goods, processed cheeses, and creamers.

• Although a minimal quantity of artificial agents may not do much to the body, long-term effects and consumption leave us the equivalent of a ticking time bomb, and the health risks remain understated. For example, processed meats are classified at the same level as tobacco in Group 1 Carcinogens, according to the WHO.

One thing that is noteworthy is that we live in an era where profit trumps all. If food as addictive as drugs can be sold at the cost and detriment of your health, it will be. So it is important for you as a consumer to be cautious of what you feed yourself and the long term effects of consuming highly processed foods.