Breaching advertising codes

This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2010/11 Ad Standards upheld complaints about two ads by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The ads were subsequently discontinued or modified.

Source: Ad Standards (2011)

Breaching advertising codes

This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2016 Ad Standards upheld complaints about a tv ad by this company on the grounds that it breached advertising codes. The ad was subsequently discontinued or modified.

Source: Ad Standards (2016)

Fairtrade products

This company sells Fairtrade Certified chocolate. However this only represents a fraction of their total chocolate sales.

Source: Fairtrade ANZ (2015)

RCMI signatory

This company is a signatory to the Responsible Children's Marketing Initiative (RCMI), which is managed by the Australian Food & Grocery Council and covers products found in retail outlets. Companies that have signed up to the initiative commit to: only advertising healthier choices to children and encouraging a healthy lifestyle through good diet and physical activity; not paying for or seeking product placement television programs, editorial content or interactive games aimed at children, unless the product is a healthier choice; not advertising and marketing to children in Australian schools unless they are asked to by those schools.

Source: AANA (2023)

Palm oil sourcing

In the 2018 Greenpeace report "The Final Countdown", this company was identified as sourcing palm oil from at least 20 of the 25 dirty palm oil producers identified in the report. In addition to deforestation, the 25 individual cases in the report include evidence of exploitation and social conflicts, illegal deforestation, development without permits, plantation development in areas zoned for protection and forest fires linked to land clearance. [Listed under Information due to age of report]

Source: Greenpeace (2018)

Workers rights - freedom of association

This International Labor Rights Forum report highlights corporations known for violating workers' freedom of association and right to organise. This company, previously Kraft Foods, was selected on the basis of their ties to violence against trade unions and suppression of the universal right to organise. [Listed under Information due to age of report]

Source: ILRF (2009)

Lead and cadmium in chocolate

In 2015 As You Sow, a consumer health protection organization, commissioned testing to measure levels of lead and cadmium in 42 chocolate products available at retailers across California. Products by this company were found to contain unsafe levels of lead and cadmium.

Source: As You Sow (2015)

Lead and cadmium in chocolate

In 2022 Consumer Reports, an independent nonprofit member organisation, tested 28 dark chocolate bars for lead and cadmium. Products by this company were found to contain unsafe levels of lead and cadmium.

Source: Consumer Reports (2022)

GE in taco shells

In September 2000 Friends of the Earth exposed the illegal starlink corn in Kraft taco shells, forcing a massive recall of this genetically engineered corn that had not been approved for human consumption.

Source: Organic Consumers Association (2000)

Fined for 'anti-competitive' behaviour

In March 2011 Kraft Foods, Unilever and Dr. Oetker were fined US$53.2m for illegally sharing 'competition-relevant information' by German competition authorities. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding]

Source: Australian Food News (2011)

Milk from cows given GE Bovine Growth Hormone

The Organic Consumers Association and allies has called for a boycott of all Kraft products for their use of genetically modified foods. In the USA, Kraft Foods uses milk from cows given genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone, developed by Monsanto. GMO bovine growth hormone produces milk that is less nutritious, is contaminated with pus, and has elevated levels of IGF-1. Elevated levels of IGF-1 are correlated with increased rates of cancer.

Source: Organic Consumers Association (USA) (2011)

Excessive CEO pay

As You Sow's 2022 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, Dirk Van de Put came in at number 86 on the list, having been paid US$16,842,693 in 2021. 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 (2022)

Cancelled Sinar Mas contracts

In 2010 Kraft responded to Greenpeace evidence of the Sinar Mas group's destructive practices by cancelling their contracts with the Indonesian palm oil and paper giant. Greenpeace has documented Sinar Mas repeatedly breaking industry guidelines, Indonesian law and its own public statements, razing rainforests to the ground in its race to produce palm oil.

Source: Greenpeace (2011)

Palm oil free products

Some, but not necessarily all, of this company's chocolate products are palm oil free. For more details, follow the link to see Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia's list of products which manufacturers have told them are palm oil free or contain segregated certified sustainable palm oil.

Source: BOS Australia (2020)

Climate action commitments

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.

Source: We Mean Business (2021)

Good Dairy Commendation (EU)

Compassion in World Farming is a UK-based organisation which works with the European food industry to encourage and reward commitment, transparency, performance and innovation in the field of animal welfare. Mondelez won their Good Dairy Commendations in 2013 for their efforts in Europe to source milk for their Philadelphia cheeses from farms with outdoor grazing and the best welfare conditions.

Source: Compassion in World Farming (2013)

World Cocoa Foundation member

This company is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), an international membership organization representing more than 100 member companies across the cocoa value chain. WCF is committed to creating a sustainable cocoa economy through economic & social development and environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.

Source: World Cocoa Foundation (2024)

Bonsucro member

This company is a member of Bonsucro - Better Sugar Cane Initiative, a global non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation fostering the sustainability of the sugarcane sector through its leading metric-based certification scheme and its support for continuous improvement for members.

Source: Bonsucro (2019)

Ellen MacArthur Foundation member

This company is a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose stated mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works with business, government and academia to build a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2023)

How2Recycle member

This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.

Source: How2Recycle (2023)

Cocoa & Forests Initiative signatory

This company is a member of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, demonstrating a commitment to no further conversion of any forest land for cocoa production in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. On March 2019, thirty-three company signatories, accounting for about 85% of global cocoa usage, released detailed individual action plans. The action plans focus on forest protection and restoration, sustainable cocoa production and farmers' livelihoods, and community engagement and social inclusion.

Source: World Cocoa Foundation (2020)

US Plastics Pact signatory

This company is a signatory to the US Plastics Pact, a collaborative effort organized by The Recycling Partnership and the World Wildlife Fund, launched as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's global Plastics Pact network to unify diverse public-private stakeholders across the plastics value chain to rethink the way we design, use, and reuse plastics, to create a path forward to realize a circular economy for plastic in the United States. In line with the Ellen McArthur Foundation's vision of a circular economy for plastics, which unites more than 850+ organizations, the US Plastics Pact brings together companies, government entities, NGOs, researchers, and other stakeholders to work collectively toward scalable solutions tailored to the unique needs and challenges within the U.S. landscape, through vital knowledge sharing and coordinated action.

Source: US Plastics Pact (2023)

Plastics Commitment signatory

This company is a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution at its source.

Source: New Plastics Economy (2022)

Global Plastics Treaty endorsee

In 2022 after more than 170 nations backed a historic UN resolution to end plastic pollution, global businesses across the plastics value chain, financial institutions, and NGOs came together to announce a common vision for an effective and ambitious Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. The vision will form the basis for future policy engagements with governments through a newly launched Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty which will be convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF. This company has endorsed the vision statement of the treaty.

Source: Global Plastics Treaty (2023)

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member

This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.

Source: SAI Platform (2023)

C- grade in Plastic Promises Scorecard

As You Sow's 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard measures the corporate ambition and action of 225 large companies across six industries on six core pillars of plastic packaging pollution prevention: 1) Recyclability, 2) Reduction, 3) Recycled Content, 4) Recovery, 5) Reuse, and 6) Producer Responsibility. This company received a grade of C-.

Source: As You Sow (2024)

Palm oil scorecard - WWF

The 2024 WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard evaluates the progress and performance of 285 major retailers and manufacturer companies, focusing on actions companies have taken to ensure their own palm oil supply chain is sustainable and free of deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuse. This company is rated 'middle of the pack' with a score of 13.53 out of a possible total of 24.

Source: WWF Palm Oil Scorecard (2024)

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)

CDP Water Security score of C

In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of C.

Source: CDP (2023)

21.5% in Human Rights Benchmark

The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 127 companies in the food and agriculture, ICT and automotive manufacturing sectors on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 21.5%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)

27.6% in Gender Benchmark

The 2023 Gender Benchmark ranks 112 companies from the apparel and food and agriculture sectors on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, violence and harassment, and marketplace and community. This company ranked #38/112, with a total score of 27.6%. The average score was 23% and the highest score was 55%.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)

Investment in nanotechnology

Friends of the Earth's 2014 report "Tiny Ingredients, Big Risks" names this company as one of over 200 transnational food companies engaged in nanotechnology research and development, and on their way to commercializing products. New studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating nanomaterials may be toxic to humans and the environment.

Source: FOE (2014)

JUST Capital ranking

JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2024 rankings the public identified 20 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked 289th of 937 companies, and 13th of 32 Food, Beverage & Tobacco companies.

Source: JUST Capital (2024)

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)