MILAN. From bananas from Brazil to Burmese rice, from Turkish hazelnuts to Mexican beans from Chinese tomatoes to strawberries from Argentina and Thai shrimps, the shelves of Italian and European supermarkets are invaded by imports of non-EU products obtained from the exploitation of child labor that end up on the tables due to an unregulated globalization. This is what Coldiretti denounces, on the basis of the list of products obtained from the exploitation of children drawn up in the “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor” of the US Department of Labor for 2020, on the occasion of the Day against child labor that it is celebrated on June 12th. From South America to Asia to Africa 112 million children and adolescents are forced to work in food production, more than 70% of the total, according to Coldiretti elaborations on ILO data, the International Labor Organization. Minors who are used for the cultivation or production of many foods that end up on our tables – Coldiretti denounces -, sometimes even passed off as Italians thanks to the lack of the obligation of origin labeling which still affects about a fifth of the expense food.
«In reality, the European Union – underlines Coldiretti – not only allows food products obtained from the exploitation of children to enter its market without obstacles, but in some cases facilitates them through preferential trade agreements. This is a behavior that behind the objective of free trade often hides precise economic interests that speculate on labor, including child labor. “With trade agreements, the European Union has favored the facilitated importation into Italy of agri-food products that are obtained from exploitation of children, from rice from Vietnam or Burma to flowers from Ecuador. “What is worrying – continues Coldiretti – is the free trade agreement that the European Union is negotiating with the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela), some of which are heavily accused by the US Department of Labor for exploitation of child labor for products that also arrive in Italy ».
“If for Argentina – explains Coldiretti – worrying cases are reported from the production of grapes, strawberries, blueberries and garlic, for Brazil the shadows concern cattle and chicken breeding, in addition to bananas, corn and coffee , while for Paraguay there are problems for cane sugar, beans, lettuce. “It is necessary that all products that enter national and European borders comply with the same criteria, ensuring that behind the foods, Italian and foreign, for sale on the shelves there is a similar quality path concerning the environment, health and work and health – affirms the president of Coldiretti Ettore Prandini in underlining – the importance of allowing citizens to make informed purchasing choices by extending the obligation to indicate on the label the origin which came into force in February 2018 which places the ‘Italy at the forefront of Europe ».