Ferrero
Flagged · AvoidThe privately-held Italian confectionery giant behind Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, and Tic Tac, and the new owner of WK Kellogg Co after acquiring it in 2025.
Last updated August 13, 2026
Reasons to avoid
Issues span:ConsumerLaborAntitrust
- In April 2022, Ferrero recalled Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs made at its Arlon, Belgium plant after a salmonella outbreak was linked to more than 150 confirmed illnesses across multiple countries, mostly in children under 10. The contamination forced Ferrero to shut down the plant and triggered a wider recall in the weeks that followed.
- Ferrara Candy Co., a Ferrero subsidiary since 2018, was fined more than $200,000 in September 2022 after OSHA cited its Bellwood, Illinois plant for exposing workers to amputation hazards, the company's third such citation in five years. Inspectors also found the plant lacked a required eyewash station and let employees operate damaged industrial vehicles.
- In April 2026, the European Commission raided Ferrero's offices in two EU countries over suspected market segmentation, restricting cross-border trade to keep prices higher in different countries. The investigation was still open as of the most recent regulatory tracking in June 2026.
Brands owned by Ferrero
- Nutella
- Ferrero Rocher
- Kinder
- Tic Tac
- Keebler
- Butterfinger
- Crunch
- Baby Ruth
- Trolli
- Brach's
- Nerds
- SweeTarts
- Laffy Taffy
Source: ferrero.com (as of 2026-08-13)
Ethical alternatives
Chocolate & Snacks
Divine Chocolate
The only Fairtrade chocolate company co-owned by the cocoa farmers themselves. The Kuapa Kokoo cooperative of 100,000+ farmers in Ghana owns 44% of the company and receives a share of profits.
✅ B-Corp🤝 Fair Trade👩🌾 Farmer Owned
Visit →
Alter Eco
B Corp certified chocolate bars and truffles made with Fair Trade, USDA Organic, and Climate Neutral ingredients. Works with smallholder farming cooperatives and uses compostable packaging.
✅ B-Corp🤝 Fair Trade🌿 Organic♻️ Sustainable
Visit →
Tony's Chocolonely
Slave-free chocolate made by a company founded specifically to end child labor in cocoa. Farmers in their supply chain are tracked individually and paid living wages.
🤝 Fair Trade🌱 Ethically Sourced
Visit →Local Chocolate Shops
Find an independent chocolatier or candy shop near you.
📍 Local Business
Spreads
Nocciolata
Organic hazelnut cocoa spread made with Fairtrade hazelnuts, a direct alternative to Nutella.
🌿 Organic
Visit →Common Questions
- Is Ferrero ethical?
- In 2022, salmonella contamination at Ferrero's Belgium plant triggered a recall of Kinder products linked to more than 150 illnesses, mostly in young children. That same year, US regulators fined Ferrero subsidiary Ferrara Candy Co. for a third repeat safety citation over unaddressed amputation hazards at its Illinois plant.
- Why are people boycotting Ferrero?
- Product safety and labor conditions are the most cited concerns, along with a European Commission antitrust investigation opened in April 2026 over suspected restrictions on cross-border trade within the EU. Ferrero has also drawn scrutiny for its 2025 acquisition of WK Kellogg Co.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to Ferrero?
- Divine Chocolate is co-owned by the Ghanaian farmer cooperative that grows its cacao, and Alter Eco and Tony's Chocolonely both make fully traceable, fair trade chocolate. Nocciolata offers an organic, Fairtrade hazelnut spread as a direct alternative to Nutella.