Kraft Heinz is splitting into two separate companies to better focus on different product categories, after a decade of challenges following its 2015 merger, which faced financial setbacks and strategic difficulties.
Del Monte Foods, a historic canned fruit and vegetable company with 139 years of operation, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to facilitate a court-supervised sale of its assets, aiming to strengthen its financial position and ensure continued operations during a challenging macroeconomic environment.
The Associated Press investigation reveals that U.S. prison labor supports a wide range of popular food brands, with goods produced by incarcerated individuals ending up in the supply chains of products from major companies like Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Walmart. The investigation highlights the disproportionate impact on people of color, the legal and historical context of prison labor, and the involvement of large corporations and commodity traders. While some companies have acknowledged and are addressing their connections to prison labor, critics emphasize the need for fair compensation, humane treatment, and voluntary work for incarcerated individuals.