Kellogg’s, one of the world’s largest cereal brands, is facing consumer boycotts for a range of ethical, environmental, and political concerns. In 2024, CEO Gary Pilnick publicly suggested families facing food insecurity should consider eating cereal for dinner. This statement was widely condemned as out of touch and exploitative, especially given the brand’s role in driving food inflation.
The company’s products have also been linked to the use of harmful ingredients including artificial dyes, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and preservatives like BHT—raising long-standing concerns about consumer health and the targeting of children through marketing.
Kellogg’s has also been criticized for sourcing palm oil tied to deforestation and labor exploitation, with weak accountability across its supply chains. While not a formal BDS target, the company has faced grassroots calls for boycott over its alignment with pro-Israel narratives and silence on the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Kellogg’s holds major influence over how food is marketed and priced globally. Its harm lies not just in ingredients or supply chain violations, but in how it shapes narratives around food insecurity and corporate responsibility. With labor concerns, environmental violations, and consumer deception compounding, it ranks as a medium-impact target for ethical boycott, especially for those focused on class justice, health equity, and anti-corporate accountability.
Skip the boxed cereal and go for oatmeal—fewer additives, more fiber, and it actually keeps you full.