Smithfield Foods, Inc. — Ethics Grade D

Smithfield Foods, Inc. receives an overall ethics grade of D (28/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Food & Beverage. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 25
• privacy: 85
• consumer: 35
• environment: 20
• humanRights: 30

Documented incidents (3)

• COVID-19 Worker Safety Violations (high, 2020) — OSHA fined Smithfield for failing to protect workers at its South Dakota plant during one of the largest early outbreaks in the US. Employees alleged they were pressured to work while sick in cramped conditions.
• Gestation Crate Misleading Claims (medium, 2022) — Animal rights groups filed complaints alleging Smithfield misled consumers by claiming they had phased out gestation crates while still using them for significant portions of the pregnancy cycle.
• Hog Waste Nuisance Lawsuits (high, 2021) — Local communities in North Carolina won multiple lawsuits against Smithfield for the environmental impact of 'lagoons' and spray fields that caused severe odors and water contamination risks.

Documented good deeds

• Manure-to-Energy Initiative — Invested in Smithfield Renewables to capture methane from hog manure and convert it into renewable natural gas.

Ethical alternatives

• Applegate Farms — Specializes in antibiotic-free and more humanely raised meat products.