After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights in 2022, Danone North America said it had updated its health benefits to cover abortion-related travel. The company described its support for reproductive rights as part of gender equity and said it aimed to support employees’ personal health decisions.
Danone North America, which updated its health care benefits to cover abortion-related travel, said: “We are unequivocal in our support for gender equity. We believe reproductive rights fall squarely into that framework, that employees have the right to make personal decisions regarding their health and wellness, and our role is to support them in those decisions.”
On June 23, 2026, the Paris Judicial Court ruled for consumer group CLCV, finding Volvic’s claims including “carbon neutral” and “100 percent recyclable” misleading. Danone contested the court’s reasoning and conclusion, said the practices complied with standards at the time, and said Volvic would appeal. The report says Volvic was ordered to pay €75,000 and publish the judgment for six months.
In October 2021, a complaint against Volvic was filed by CLCV (Consommation, Logement et Cadre de Vie) which summoned the brand before the Paris Judicial Court after Volvic failed to adequately respond to a formal notice, targeting environmental allegations used on its bottles and packaging (including "carbon neutral," "certified carbon neutral," "100 percent recycled," "100 percent recyclable," and "always recyclable"). CLCV claimed these allegations were misleading, since Volvic's carbon offsetting did not fully cancel out the emissions generated in producing its bottles and the "100 percent recyclable" label appeared on packaging whose adhesive and ink were not themselves fully recyclable. On 23 June 2026, the Paris Judicial Court issued its judgment against Volvic, finding in CLCV's favour on all counts.
In April 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged that Danone’s planned $12.5 billion acquisition of WhiteWave would likely reduce competition in northeastern raw organic milk purchasing and nationwide fluid organic milk sales. The government proposed requiring Danone to divest its Stonyfield subsidiary; the proposed judgment was subject to court review and public comment.
Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated July 6, 2016, Danone S.A. (“Danone”) has agreed to purchase The WhiteWave Foods Company (“WhiteWave”) for approximately $12.5 billion. Danone has participated in the raw organic milk and fluid organic milk markets for the past two decades through a strategic partnership with WhiteWave's closest competitor, CROPP Cooperative (“CROPP”). As a result, Danone's acquisition of WhiteWave effectively brings together WhiteWave and CROPP, the top purchasers of raw organic milk in the northeast United States and the producers of the three leading brands of fluid organic milk in the United States.
1. On July 6, 2016, Danone, the leading U.S. manufacturer of organic yogurt, agreed to acquire WhiteWave, the leading U.S. manufacturer of fluid organic milk, for approximately $12.5 billion. Danone has participated in the raw organic milk and fluid organic milk markets for the past two decades through a strategic partnership with WhiteWave's closest competitor, CROPP Cooperative (“CROPP”). As a result, Danone's acquisition of WhiteWave effectively brings together WhiteWave and CROPP, the top purchasers of raw organic milk in the northeast United States and the producers of the three leading brands of fluid organic milk in the United States.
The EU Court of First Instance upheld the Commission’s finding that Danone, through its own involvement and its subsidiary Alken-Maes, participated in a Belgian beer cartel from 28 January 1993 to 28 January 1998. The cartel covered prices, promotions, customer allocation, advertising and information-sharing; the Commission imposed a €44.043 million fine on Danone.}}}
241 With reference to the matters discussed at the meeting of 28 January 1998, which the applicant does not dispute took place, the significance to be ascribed to the handwritten notes of Interbrew’s Belgian marketing manager, Mr A.D., depends on the conclusions to be drawn from two points, namely the nature of their contents and the extent to which they were up-to-date.
229 As regards the allegedly unlawful meeting of 17 April 1997, the Commission states in recital 95 of the contested decision that managers of Interbrew, the applicant and Alken-Maes met in Paris on 17 April 1997. The applicant does not deny that such a meeting took place.
11 The infringement found to have been committed by the applicant consists in its participation, both directly and through its subsidiary Alken-Maes, in a complex set of agreements and/or concerted practices relating to a general non-aggression pact, prices and promotions in the off-trade, customer sharing in the on-trade, including ‘national’ customers, the restriction of investment and advertising in the on-trade, a new pricing structure for the on-trade and the off-trade, and the exchange of information about sales in both the on-trade and the off‑trade.
249 The applicant maintains that, in finding that it put pressure on Interbrew at the meeting of 11 May 1994 which, in the form of a threat to force it off the French market if it refused to grant it a sales quota of 500 000 hectolitres on the Belgian market, led to an extension of the cartel after that date, the Commission is mistaken as to the impact of the facts in issue.
After Russia placed Danone’s unit under temporary state management in 2023, Danone completed the sale of its Essential Dairy and Plant-based business in May 2024. Reports said former Chechen official Ruslan Alisultanov became sole owner of the assets. The business was later renamed Milk Logic; it said its legal entities, contracts and brands would remain unchanged.
Danone announced its intention to leave Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with the Kremlin temporarily seizing its assets the following year and installing former Chechen official Ruslan Alisultanov as chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Danone announced its intention to leave Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin placed its Russian unit under temporary state management in July 2023, and Ruslan Alisultanov was named its chairman of the board.
On Feb. 13, 2026, the Paris prosecutor announced investigations into five infant-formula makers, including Danone, over alleged deception involving products that could pose a health risk. Recalls across more than 60 countries followed possible cereulide contamination. French authorities said no causal link had been established between recalled formula and three reported infant deaths.
The fallout has grown over time because many different companies and multiple brands used this supplier. The supplier hasn't been officially named. The UK's Food Standards Agency said the supplier of the ARA oil was no longer being used by Nestle or Danone. Lactalis said they would only continue production with ARA sourced from suppliers not affected by the alert.
In 2025, Danone settled two U.S. lawsuits alleging misleading plastic-packaging claims, without admitting the claims. Agreements include funding plastic-reduction solutions and initiatives, and changes to recycling disclosures and marketing. Separately, Danone agreed with three European groups to update its vigilance plan, strengthen plastic-prevention measures and publish a plastic footprint; the groups withdrew their court action.
Danone itself faced a similar microplastics lawsuit, which a Chicago judge dismissed last year. Earlier this year, the company settled a plastics transparency lawsuit with three European organizations and agreed to four measures, including implementing reusable packaging solutions.
Danone settled two false advertising lawsuits over its plastic packaging that were filed by nonprofit public interest organization Earth Island Institute and the group’s sponsored project, the Plastic Pollution Coalition.
PPC filed a complaint in Washington, D.C., in July 2024 against Danone over claims of misleading sustainability and recyclability marketing statements about Evian water bottles...
Danone itself faced a similar microplastics lawsuit, which a Chicago judge dismissed last year. Earlier this year, the company settled a plastics transparency lawsuit with three European organizations and agreed to four measures, including implementing reusable packaging solutions.
Under the agreements with two groups, the consumer packaged goods company will change certain marketing statements about plastic recycling and contribute funds to plastic packaging reduction efforts.
Amidst a lawsuit alleging its failure to record its plastic consumption, Danone has reached an agreement with ClientEarth, Surfrider Foundation Europe and Zero Waste France; now the corporation must publish its use of plastics, strengthen its plastics prevention policy, and attend annual meetings in the coming years.
OpenSecrets data lists Groupe Danone lobbying expenditures of $670,000 in 2021 and $470,000 in 2022; three of its six 2022 lobbyists had previously held government jobs. The page also reports $4,497 in contributions, but the supplied excerpt does not identify the contribution period or recipients.
A lobbying filing lists efforts concerning circular-economy policy, recycling and food-packaging materials, including extended producer responsibility, as well as USDA regenerative-agriculture co-financing programs. It names the Senate, House, EPA and USDA as relevant bodies. Danone SA said it shared Danone North America’s interests in the listed issues.
Legislative and administrative efforts to build a circular economy, recycling and food packaging materials, such as an extended producer responsibility policy. Issues related to the implementation of USDA regenerative agriculture co-financing programs, including Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program.
A lobbying filing lists work on labeling plant-based and dairy products, nutrition policies including WIC and SNAP, implementation of the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, and FY2026 agriculture and FDA appropriations. It names the FDA, Congress and USDA. Danone SA said it shared its subsidiary Danone North America’s interests in these issues.
Labeling of plant-based and dairy products; issues relating to nutrition policies, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other nutrition programs for students and children. Implementation of nutrition regulations from the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies apporpriations bill.
A lobbying filing says Danone North America raised issues concerning changes in trade policies and their effects on its business. It lists the Senate, House, USDA and Executive Office of the President as agencies or bodies involved. Danone SA is identified as the parent company and as sharing the same interests.
A lobbying filing lists issues including organic agriculture standards, USDA conservation co-financing, and Farm Bill reauthorization priorities for nutrition and conservation. It names Congress, USDA, the Executive Office of the President, FDA and OMB. Danone SA is identified as Danone North America’s parent and as sharing its interests.
Issues relating to organic agriculture, including integrity and enforcement standards for organic livestock and dairy. Issues relating to the Department of Agriculture's co-financing conservation programs to support ongoing efforts to improve the financing health of our producer-partners. Farm Bill reauthorization process, including nutrition and conservation priorities.
Announced Sept. 16, 2025, the five-year pilot with Ahold Delhaize USA and The Nature Conservancy aims to reduce methane emissions in the dairy supply chain for selected Danone North America yogurt products sold by Ahold Delhaize brands. The project will support participating farms in adopting practices; results are to be independently validated.
Salisbury, NC; and White Plains, NY – Ahold Delhaize USA, the East Coast’s largest grocery retail group, Danone North America, a top purpose-driven food and beverage company, and The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization, today announced a value chain collaboration that seeks to enhance farm and supply chain resilience and reduce Scope 3 emissions from dairy production. The pilot, which will kick off this year, targets a shared reduction in methane emissions from the dairy supply in selected Danone North America yogurt products sold by retailers, including Ahold Delhaize USA brands, over the next five years.
Danone North America filed a New Jersey WARN notice for closing its Bridgeton plant, which makes Silk and So Delicious drinks. The 114 layoffs are scheduled between Aug. 4 and Nov. 2, 2026. Danone said production will move to plants in Virginia, Texas and Florida; its CFO had described North American plant-based performance in 2025 as unsatisfactory.
Danone North America, a major producer of plant-based milk products, will close its Bridgeton plant, eliminating 114 jobs at the facility, which has operated for more than 20 years.