Apparently we are buying more chocolate than ever to comfort ourselves amidst the dreary economic conditions facing us. But what of the farmers in Ghana or Nigeria, two of the top cocoa producing countries who are struggling to make ends meet in these times?

It takes from 300 to 600 cocoa beans to make a pound of chocolate. This is partly why cocoa farmers find it difficult to make a profit from cocoa beans, which consequently has led to an increase in child and even slave labour. Unfortunately the big brands can't guarantee the farms their cocoa beans are sourced from.

When in comes to chocolate the Fairtrade symbol holds so much weight when deciding which brand to buy. I know I'd rather comfort myself with a bit of the sweet stuff without the guilt and uncertainty of whether I had contributed to the suffering of a poor child.