As we sat here at the winery munching away on cashews, we thought about the environmental and human aspects of harvesting. It was a reminder to check the source of the foods we eat!
TLDR: The shell of the cashew nut contains anacardic acid that can burn. Not all suppliers provide protective gloves or fair pay.
“Burns are a fact of life for up to 500,000 workers in India’s cashew industry, nearly all women. They are employed without contracts, with no guarantee of steady income, no pension or holiday pay. Many don’t even get gloves, and if they did, they probably couldn’t afford to wear them. Gloves would slow their shelling down, and they are paid by the kilo.”
Read here: Cashew Nuts: A Toxic Industry