A Report Card for Global Food Giants

NGO Oxfam has developed a scoring mechanism to evaluate multinational food companies and their effects on the environment, labor and health, reports a New York Times blog. “The goal of the scorecard, called ‘Behind the Brands,’ is to motivate consumers to pressure companies like Nestlé, Kellogg and Mars to improve their policies on land and water use and the treatment of small farmers, among other things, and to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions,” reports Stephanie Strom. She suggests that consumers have more information than ever before. Yet the amount of trade behind any one product has never been so extensive. One goal of such rankings is to increase transparency on sensitive issues – ingredient sources, methods like genetic engineering, fair wages and waste. None of the multinationals rank particularly high – KitKat candy shows “some progress” and Häagen-Dazs ice cream is “poor.” A comment from Food & Water Watch suggests that such rankings are an effort in futility and urges consumers to support small farmers and companies. – YaleGlobal