Addressing Demand by Shopping Wisely

We’d like to share this article from the St. Louis Rescue and Restore Coalition. Thank you to our St. Louis friends for all they do to combat human trafficking!

St. Louis Rescue & Restore Coalition
November 21st, 2011 

Hello! 

The holiday season is here and many of us will be baking yummy treats for family and friends over the course of the next month. Being a conscientious shopper is one way we can fight human trafficking. Sweatshops, child labor, and the unfair wages of workers are just a few reasons why it is important to know where your food comes from and to vote with your buck. This holiday season why not check your cupboard and see where your baking products come from. Below is a list of some of the best and worst brands of baking items based on the “The Better World Shopping Guide” by Ellis Jones (2008).

Food for Thought:
Worst: Items receiving a D+ or less 
Baking Goods/Supplies- KRAFT, Jell-O, Nabisco, Planters
Kraft was listed on Multinational Monitor’s Worst 100 list 5 years in a row (Jones, 2008, p. 25)

Butter- Blue Bonnet, Parkay
Parkay receives a grade of “F” for overall social responsibility and was listed as #50 for the “Top 100 Corporate Criminals” (Jones, 2008, p. 37)

Chocolate- Nestle, Toblerone, Dove
Nestle has been involved in child labor lawsuits and received the “Most Irresponsible” corporation award (Jones, 2008, p. 53)

Eggs- Egg Beaters
Not only does Egg Beaters have the 2nd largest E. coli meat recall in history, they also have several worker safety and health violations (Jones, 2008, p. 79)

Sugar/Spices- Hormel, Morton
Hormel has a low score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Index and refuses disclosure to consumers (Jones, 2008, p. 155)

Better: Items receiving a C+ to a C-
Baking Goods/Supplies- Keebler, Kellogg’s, Ghirardelli, Jiffy, Duncan Hines, Eagle Brand, Red Star, Karo

Butter- Land O’ Lakes, Brummel & Brown, Promise

Chocolate- Godiva, Newman’s Own Organics

Eggs- Egglands Best, Land-O Lakes

Sugar/Spices- Splenda, Lawry’s, C&H, Mrs. Dash, Butter Buds, Molly McButter, Sweet N’ Low, Xylo Sweet

Best: Items receiving an A+ to a B-
Baking Goods/Supplies- King Arthur, Eden, Nature’s Path, Bob’s Red Mill, Sunspire

Butter- Organic Valley, Straus Family, Earth Balance

Chocolate- Endangered Species, Rapunzel, Equal Exchange, Divine, AlterEco, Green & Black’s, Cadbury

Eggs- Organic Valley, Eggology, Veg-a-Fed, Clover Stornetta, Judy’s Family Farm

Sugar/Spices- Wholesome Sweeteners, Eden Foods, King Arthur, Simply Organic, Shady Maple Farm

Other Resources for Conscientious Shopping:
www.edenfoods.com
www.kingarthurflour.com
www.bobsredmill.com
www.organicvalley.coop
www.strausmilk.com
www.wholesomsweeteners.com
www.frontiercoop.com
www.altereco-usa.com