MAIF signatory

This company is a signatory to the Manufacturers and Importers Agreement 1992 (MAIF), a voluntary self-regulatory code of conduct between the manufacturers and importers of infant formula in Australia. The MAIF Agreement aims to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breast milk substitutes, when they are necessary, on the basis of adequate information through appropriate marketing and distribution.

Source: Australian Govt Dept of Health (2024)

Sustainability claims

This company has a number of sustainability claims on its website.

Source: company website (2014)

Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations of 2007'

Named one of Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations' in 2007. [Listed under information due to age of article]

Source: Multinational Monitor (2007)

Irresponsible BMS marketing

This company is named and shamed in IBFAN's 2017 report, 'Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2017', evidence of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS), compiled from June 2014 to June 2017. The report covers 792 Code violations from 79 countries and by 28 companies. [Listed under Information due to age of report]

Source: IBFAN (2017)

Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations of 2006'

Named one of Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations' in 2006. [Listed under information due to age of article]

Source: Multinational Monitor (2006)

Price fixing

In 2010, Abbott Laboratories, B. Braun Medical and Roxane Laboratories agreed to pay $421 million to resolve claims they had reported false and inflated prices for their drugs, which again affected federal health care reimbursements. The grossly inflated average wholesale price (AWP) caused Medicare and Medicaid programs to spend more per patient than was necessary, thereby reducing the amount of funding available for all patients in need. The drug manufacturers did not admit fault. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding]

Source: Drug Watch (2010)

Price fixing in China

In 2013 China fined six companies, including this one, a total of $110 million following an investigation into price fixing and anti-competitive practices by foreign baby formula makers.

Source: news article (2013)

Excessive CEO pay

As You Sow's 2023 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, Robert B. Ford came in at number 80 on the list, having been paid US$24,914,886 in 2022. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."

Source: As You Sow (2023)

CEO Pay Ratio of 214:1

In 2022 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$101,360. The CEO was paid 214 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.

Source: AFL-CIO (2023)

Mum-friendly employer

This company was named in Seramount's 100 Best Companies 2022 for being a mum-friendly employer. Listed companies provide inclusive benefits for families, including paid gender-neutral parental leave, phase-back programs, bereavement leave after miscarriage, reimbursement for fertility expenses, and increased mental health benefits for employees.

Source: Seramount (2022)

Responsible Minerals Initiative member

This company is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (formerly the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative), which helps companies address conflict minerals issues in their supply chains. The RMI provides information on conflict-free smelters and refiners, common tools to gather sourcing information, and forums for exchanging best practices on addressing conflict minerals. Membership is open to companies that use or transact in tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold (3TG). Founded in 2008 by members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.

Source: RMI (2019)

Citizenship claims

This company has sustainability claims on its website.

Source: company website (2014)

11/18 in Net Zero scorecard

As You Sow's 2022 report, 'Road to Zero Emissions', assessed the progress of 55 of the largest U.S. corporations in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the Paris Agreement's objective of limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which requires achieving "net zero" emissions by 2050. Companies are graded on: climate related disclosures; GHG reduction targets, and GHG reductions. This company received an Overall Net Zero grade of C+.

Source: As You Sow (2022)

Modern Slavery statement

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.

Source: company website (2017)

54% in conflict minerals rankings

As You Sow's 2019 report, Mining the Disclosures, is a deep analysis of 215 companies' human rights performance in relation to sourcing conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This company's score was 54% (Adequate).

Source: As You Sow (2019)

OpenSecrets.org profile

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.

Source: Open Secrets (2024)