"British MPs urge Nestlé to rethink dropping Fairtrade cocoa for its KitKat bars", 27 July 2020

During a recent meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fairtrade, MPs put their concerns to Nestlé...that [the] decision to switch cocoa sourcing from Fairtrade to Rainforest Alliance would put some of the world's poorest...farmers and workers' livelihoods at risk, at a time when the coronavirus means they can least afford it.

...Nestlé has argued that schemes would be in place to mitigate the impact..., but admitted that sugar farmers would definitely be worse off under its decision to source UK beet sugar instead of sugar cane from overseas. [MPs]...made clear that they remained unconvinced by [Nestlé's]...decision to stop sourcing on Fairtrade terms...

Labour MP Holly Lynch, co-chair of the APPG on Fairtrade..."[We] are concerned that Nestlé's decision to stop sourcing Fairtrade cocoa...will knock consumer confidence in the brand. [We] are asking Nestlé to think again..., [at] the very least...delay this process to safeguard producers who have been integral to the company's long-term success". MPs also questioned the depth of the consultation process that Nestlé ran with cocoa farmers before making their decision...