Kellogg
OVERALL |
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Owned |
USA |
Rating |
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Breakfast cereal makers
USA's #1 breakfast cereal maker. In 2012, Kellogg's became the world's second-largest snack food company after buying Pringles from Procter & Gamble for US$2.7bn.
Company Ownership
| Kellogg Company | USA | website | ||||
W.K. Kellogg Foundation 
owns 30% of Kellogg Company |
USA | website | ||||
Philanthropic foundation Founded in 1930 by cereal industry pioneer (and Seventh Day Adventist) Will Keith Kellogg, the foundation provides more than $200 million in grants each year to programs focused on youth and education, health, food systems and rural development, and philanthropy and volunteerism. | ||||||
Company Assessment
| PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
| Kellogg Company | ||||
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The 2019 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 200 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world from the Agricultural Products, Apparel, Extractives and ICT Manufacturing sectors on 100 human rights indicators. This company's score was in the 60-70 band range. The overall average score was a disappointing 24%.
Source: CHRB (2019)
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #11/350, with a total score of 50.1/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)
In 2020, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of B.
Source: CDP (2020)
In 2020, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of B.
Source: CDP (2020)
Ethical Consumer has ranked companies' practices and policies in relation to their palm oil sourcing for the Rainforest Foundation/Ethical Consumer palm oil campaign. This company received a 'green' rating.
Source: Rainforest Foundation UK (2016)
The Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI) is a global initiative that evaluates the world's largest food and beverage manufacturers on their policies, practices and performance related to undernutrition and obesity. Of the 22 companies ranked this company came 8th.
Source: Access to Nutrition Foundation (2018)
In 2020, 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 B.
Source: CDP (2020)
This company is listed as having best practice on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
Source: Human Rights Campaign (2021)
In 2020/21 KnowTheChain benchmarked over 180 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 54/100.
Source: KnowTheChain (2021)
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2021 rankings the public identified 19 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 129th of 928 companies, and 6th of 35 Food, Beverage & Tobacco companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2020)
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 74/100 in the Food Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 7 Feb 2021). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2021) |
A 2016 report by Amnesty International found a range of labour rights abuses on the palm oil plantations operated by Wilmar's subsidiaries and suppliers in Indonesia. These abuses include worst forms of child labour, forced labour, discrimination against women workers, people being paid below the minimum wage, and workers suffering injuries from toxic chemicals. The report confirms that Kellogg's has a joint venture with, and sources palm oil from Wilmar.
Source: Amnesty Intl (2016)
This company sources palm oil from at least 20 of the 25 dirty palm oil producers identified in the 2018 Greenpeace report "The Final Countdown". 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.
Source: Greenpeace (2018)
In 2019 Rainforest Action Network (RAN) conducted a series of undercover investigations which showed that several major snack food producers, including this company, have been found purchasing palm oil from mills that have continued to source palm oil resulting from the illegal clearing of lowland rainforests within the nationally protected Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve in Indonesia. These mills are located immediately next to areas of illegal encroachment into the Leuser Ecosystem and lack the necessary procedures to trace the location where the palm oil they sell is grown, a key requirement for complying with the No Deforestation, No Peatlands, No Exploitation (NDPE) policy this company has publicly committed to.
Source: RAN (2019)
In 2018 volunteers collected and catalogued more than 187,000 pieces of trash from beach cleanups around the world to find out which corporations are contributing the most to the global plastic pollution problem. While not in the top 10, this company ranked as one of the world's worst plastic polluters.
Source: #breakfreefromplastic (2018)
While Mexico has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, certain micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency, continue to be a public health concern. In response the Mexican government passed laws for the mandatory fortification of both wheat and maize the early 2000s. Changing Markets' 2019 report, 'Corn Fakes', exposes Kellogg's for reducing or removing two-thirds of essential micronutrients from their most popular breakfast cereal brands in Mexico since 2013. The report estimates that Kellogg's saves US$85 million over five years by removing key micronutrients, whilst the minimum cumulative social cost to Mexico for the removal of just three key nutrients - iron, calcium and folic acid - will be US$250 million over five years. This means for every dollar that Kellogg's saves by de-fortifying cereals it destroys at least three dollars in value to Mexican society.
Source: Changing Markets (2019)
In 2019 this company agreed to pay US$20 million to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed that they falsely advertised their sugar-filled cereals as healthy.
Source: Top Class Actions (2019)
In 2021 this company agreed to pay US$13 million to settle a class action lawsuit that alleged Kellogg violated certain laws by labeling three of its cereals with certain nutritious statements even though plaintiffs alleged the products contained excessive amounts of sugar.
Source: Top Class Actions (2019)
This company received a score of 47.9/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017) |
Named in Consumers International's International Bad Product Awards 2007. Key to Kellogg's success has been the use of some of the most persistent and persuasive marketing methods to children. Many of these products are breakfast cereals high in fat, sugar and/or salt. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Consumers International (2007)
In 2013 Kellogg agreed to pay $4 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the marketing claims it made for Frosted Mini-Wheats. The company was sued for saying that the cereal improved children's attentiveness, memory and other cognitive functions.
Source: news article (2013)
Named in Consumers International's International Bad Product Awards 2008. Lego and Kellogg's came up with the idea of tapping into kids' love of Lego by releasing edible candy bricks made to look just like the real thing. It would seem they didn't realise that toddlers may mistake real Lego for their 'Fun Snacks'. It was discontinued soon afterwards (2008).
Source: Consumers International (2008)
This company has products rated RED in the Centre for Food Safety's True Food Shopper's Guide (USA). Products on the RED list contain ingredients that come from the most common GE crops (corn, soy, canola, cotton). Companies with products on this list have confirmed that their products may have or are likely to be made with GE ingredients, or have not denied using GE foods when given the opportunity to do so.
Source: Center for Food Safety USA (2018)
GMO Inside Campaign has called for a boycott of Kellogg's products for Kellogg's pro Genetically Engineered stance. Kellogg was a key player in the introduction of GMO Sugar in the USA in 2008.
Source: GMO Inside Coalition (2013)
Testing commissioned by As You Sow found potentially harmful nanoparticles in Pop-Tarts. Nanomaterials have undergone little or no safety testing. Research shows that these tiny particles are so small that they can easily penetrate cell walls and slip into organs, including the brain, with infants and children particularly susceptible.
Source: As You Sow (2013)
In 2019 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$38,895. The CEO was paid 249 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 (2020)
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; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; remove commodity-driven deforestation from all supply chains by 2020; develop low carbon action plan; commit to 100% renewable power.
Source: We Mean Business (2017)
This company has been issuing Corporate Responsibility Reports since 2008. Click link below to view report, or to see Kellogg's other corporate responsibility claims.
Source: company website (2020)
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 (2019)
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 (2020)
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 (2019)
This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.
Source: Sedex (2018)
In May 2014 Oxfam singled out Kellogg and General Mills as two of the worst food companies on climate and called on them to lead the sector towards more responsible policies and practices. In August 2014, following public pressure, Oxfam welcomed Kellogg's climate action commitment to take industry-leading steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions in its agricultural supply chains in line with climate science.
Source: Oxfam (2014)
The Forest 500 identifies, ranks, and tracks the governments, companies and financial institutions worldwide that together could virtually eradicate tropical deforestation. Rankings are based on their public policies and commitments and potential impacts on tropical forests in the context of forest risk commodities (palm oil, soy, beef, leather, timber and paper). This company received a score of 46%.
Source: Forest 500 (2020)
In 2016 Greenpeace published a report on the progress towards zero deforestation in the palm oil supply chains of several multinational companies. Companies were assessed on three criteria: responsible sourcing, transparency and industry reform. This company was rated as 'getting there'.
Source: Greenpeace (2016)
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 assesses 173 companies on the commitments they have made, and the actions they have taken, to ensure that there is no destruction of nature including no deforestation along their supply chains; and support a responsible and sustainable palm oil industry beyond their own supply chain. This company is rated 'middle of the pack' with a score of 13 out of a possible total of 22.
Source: WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 (2019)
As You Sow's 2021 Corporate Plastic Pollution Scorecard ranks companies on plastic packaging pollution. The study measures the progress of 50 large companies in the beverage, quick-service restaurant, consumer packaged goods, and retail sectors on six core pillars where swift action is needed to reduce plastic pollution: 1) Packaging Design, 2) Reusable Packaging, 3) Recycled Content, 4) Public Data Transparency, 5) Support for Recycling, and 6) Producer Responsibility. This company received a grade of C
Source: As You Sow (2021)
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: Modern Slavery Registry (2015)
Over the last 60 years farming has become dependent on the intensive use of chemicals. As You Sow's 2019 report, Pesticides in the Pantry, examines the growing risks posed by the use of synthetic pesticides in agricultural supply chains to food manufacturers, and scores companies on their efforts to reduce pesticide use in their supply chains. Scores ranged from 18 to 0, with an average score of 6.1. This company received a score of 8/30.
Source: As You Sow (2019)
Oxfam's 2016 Behind the Brands Scorecard assesses the agricultural sourcing policies of the world's 10 largest food and beverage companies. It exclusively focuses on publicly available information that relates to the policies of these companies on their sourcing of agricultural commodities from developing countries. This company scored 53% (some progress).
Source: Oxfam (2016)
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 (2020) |
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Company Details
| Type | Public company |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Revenue | 13.8 billion USD (2020) |
| Employees | 31,000 (2020) |
| Subsidiaries | Kellogg Australia Pty Ltd
Food manufacturer Kellogg Australia bought Specialty Cereals in Sept 2008. - Specialty Cereals Pty Ltd
Cereal manufacturer Specialty Cereals was bought by Kellogg Australia in Sept 2008. Cerevite was later discontinued. |
Contact Details
| Address | Battle Creek, Michigan, USA |
| Website | www.kelloggcompany.com |
Products / Brands
Kellogg Australia|
Be Natural Muesli & Oats Be Natural Muesli Bars Be Natural Health Bars Be Natural Cereal Bear Naked Muesli & Oats Bear Naked Muesli Bars Kellogg's Breakfast On the Go Kelloggs Cereal |
Kelloggs Muesli Bars Kelloggs Muesli & Oats LCMs Muesli Bars Nutri-Grain Breakfast On the Go Pringles Chips/Crisps Sunibrite Muesli Bars |
Specialty Cereals
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Vogel's Cereal
Vogel's Muesli & Oats |