2026 Pesticides in the Pantry:
Transparency & risk in food supply chains
Key Findings
Pesticides in the Pantry Scorecard | Last Updated: March 2026
Most major food manufacturers and suppliers backslide in their pesticide use and risk reduction activities.
Only four companies made progress this year.
High Level Trends (2023 vs. 2026)
| Metric | 2023 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Average Score | 4.5 of 27 points | 3.0 of 27 points |
| Average Grade | F | F (Unchanged) |
| Companies at 0 Points | 1 | 5 |
| Top Performer | General Mills "C" | Nestlé "C" |
Four Companies Improved Scores
While the industry broadly regressed in pesticide-related action, four companies improved their scores since 2023:
- Publicly states aim to phase out pesticides and controversial practices — including glyphosate as desiccant
- Requires suppliers to reduce broad-spectrum pesticides and adopt alternative practices
- Requires drift reduction measures and buffer zones near sensitive areas
- Publicly discloses pesticide data including 8% reduction in Spanish tomato supply chain
- Goal by 2033: reduce active ingredient pesticide use by 5% per ton harvested
- Reduced pesticides from 3.1 lbs/ton (2023) to 1.2 lbs/ton (2024)
- Collects pesticide data from suppliers representing 66% of sourcing volume
- Adopted pesticide reduction practices
- Reduced applications from 7 to 1.5
- Discontinued 7 pesticides (Rainforest Alliance)
- Committed to regenerative ag practices
- Expanded pesticide data collection
- Benchmarks 80% of supplier spend
Note: Even Nestlé's top score of 10 points represents only 37% of possible points — demonstrating that even "leaders" have significant gaps in pesticide accountability.
Active Backsliding: Companies Dropping Pesticide Reporting
Major companies are not simply stagnating — they are removing pesticide-related commitments and transparency measures from public reporting.
ADM Erased Public Commitment: "ADM aims to reduce the usage of chemical pesticides in our key agricultural supply chains by 2030" — goal eliminated.
Universal Gaps: Zero Progress on Critical Issues
- Pesticide reduction requirements across their supply chains
- Farmworker pesticide protection programs
- Policies requiring community notification before spraying
- Drift reduction measures for volatile pesticides (dicamba, 2,4-D)
Less Than One-Third of Companies Disclose Pesticide Data
2026 leaders — Nestlé, Lamb Weston, Del Monte, Ferrero, and Conagra — disclose pesticide use data by specific programs, projects, crop type, or other segments of supply chain.
Note: Each received only 1 of 3 possible points. Partial disclosure does not demonstrate full progress toward mitigating pesticide-related risk.
Complete Company Rankings
| Rank | Company | 2026 Score | Grade | 2023 Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nestlé | 10 | C | 6 | +4 |
| 2 | Lamb Weston | 9 | D | 6 | +3 |
| 3 | Del Monte | 8 | D | 4 | +4 |
| 4 | Ferrero | 5 | D | — | New |
| 4 | Post Holdings | 5 | D | 2 | +3 |
| 6 | ADM | 3 | F | 9 | −6 |
| 6 | PepsiCo | 3 | F | 9 | −6 |
| 8 | Campbell Soup | 2 | F | 7 | −5 |
| 8 | Conagra | 2 | F | 8 | −6 |
| 8 | Mondelēz | 2 | F | 5 | −3 |
| 11 | B&G Foods | 1 | F | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Danone | 1 | F | 3 | −2 |
| 13 | Cargill | 0 | F | 3 | −3 |
| 13 | General Mills | 0 | F | 10 | −10 |
| 13 | J.M. Smucker | 0 | F | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Kraft Heinz | 0 | F | 2 | −2 |
| 13 | Mars | 0 | F | 1 | −1 |
What This Data Reveals
The food industry has not responded to stakeholder demands for pesticide reduction and transparency.
Since our last assessment, major food manufacturers' and suppliers' average scores have fallen, in some cases dramatically, reflecting the industry's overall regression, with leading companies actively dismantling previous commitments. This pattern suggests that current voluntary corporate action is insufficient to drive meaningful pesticide reduction across the food system.
In a competitive marketplace that increasingly demands safe food, and reduced harm to stakeholders and the environment, understanding and assessing supplier pesticide use is essential for companies to mitigate risk and maintain profitability well into the future.
Methodology Note
2023 vs. 2026 Scoring
- 2023: 27 binary questions (yes/no) = 27 points possible
- 2026: 9 tiered questions (0–3 scale) = 27 points possible
The 2026 methodology addresses 9 separate areas of concern, with available points in each section. The tiering rewards depth of practice (e.g., verification, public data, supply chain-wide action) rather than simply having a policy. Some score declines reflect this raised bar; however, companies that removed commitments or stopped reporting show backsliding regardless of methodology.
- Ferrero acquired WK Kellogg for $3.1 billion. Kellogg removed from scorecard; Ferrero added.
- Mars acquired Kellanova (Kellogg spin-off) for $36 billion. Kellanova removed; Mars retained.