Tony's Chocolonely voluntarily recalled seven lots of its chocolate bars after consumers reported finding small stones. The company stated that the stones were not filtered during the third‐party almond processing, and though no injuries were reported, the recall was issued as a precautionary measure to ensure consumer safety.

Tony's Chocolonely, an ethical chocolate company committed to ending exploitation in the cocoa industry, announced a significant expansion in the US market through a new national retail partnership with Walmart and other major retailers. The expansion, accompanied by fresh investment including a minority shareholding by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, reinforces the company’s mission to pay a living income to cocoa farmers and benefit over 18,000 smallholder farming families.

Tony's Chocolonely was criticized for its continued partnership with Barry Callebaut, a supplier linked to unethical labor practices. Despite its public advocacy against child and slave labor, the association has led to its exclusion from the Slave Free Chocolate ethical suppliers list.

Tony's Chocolonely responded to being removed from an ethical supplier list by emphasizing its commitment to a fully traceable cocoa supply chain and robust child labor monitoring and remediation practices, arguing that its partnership with Barry Callebaut enables higher transparency and industry standards.

In 2023, Tony's Chocolonely faced severe allegations over its cocoa supply chain practices, including reports of child labor, forced labor, and environmental damage, contradicting its ethical sourcing claims. The company acknowledged shortcomings and pledged corrective measures.

The article outlines how Tony's Chocolonely leverages five core sourcing principles—including transparent traceability, fair pricing, and long-term farmer partnerships—to reshape the cocoa supply chain, reduce exploitation, and promote ethical labor practices in the cocoa industry.

Tony's Chocolonely's annual fair report reveals that 1,701 child labourers were identified in its supply chain during 2021, representing a steep increase from 387 the previous year. The company claims that uncovering these cases is a step towards addressing exploitation, although the rise in child labour raises significant concerns over labor rights and ethical sourcing practices.

Tony's Chocolonely released its 10th annual FAIR report for 2021/22. The report details the company’s continued efforts to tackle child labour through enhanced transparency, traceability in its supply chain, and specific remediation strategies. It also highlights achievements such as 0% illegal deforestation and a significant portion of the living income premium being paid directly to farmers, while also acknowledging higher incidences of child labour in newer partner cooperatives and outlining ambitious reduction targets for 2023.

Tony's Chocolonely continues its commitment to ethical sourcing by actively fighting illegal child labor in cocoa production and promoting a 100% slave-free chocolate industry, setting an ethical benchmark in contrast to industry giants.