Danone

🚨 Reasons for Boycotting Danone Group

Danone Group is one of the world's largest food companies, owning iconic brands such as Activia, Evian, Volvic, Alpro, Nutricia, and Bebelac. While the company claims to have no factories or offices in israil, it is deeply embedded in the israeli economy through its 20% strategic partnership with israeli Strauss Group which funds the Golani Brigade, its direct investments in israeli company Wilk Technologies, and its former CEO receiving the Jubilee Award from the israeli government. Additionally, its largest shareholders - BlackRock and Vanguard - are among the largest investors in the weapons companies supplying the israeli occupation military.

1. 20% Partnership with Strauss Group - Financier of the Golani Brigade: Danone holds a 20% stake in Strauss Health Ltd., a subsidiary of the israeli Strauss Group - israil's largest food company. The partnership was established in 1996 when Danone acquired 20% of Strauss Health for $66.3 million. Danone retains the right to appoint 20% of the board members. Strauss Group has a documented history of directly financing the Golani Brigade, an elite infantry unit in the israeli military frequently deployed in Gaza and the West Bank. Ofra Strauss, CEO of Strauss Group, stated in a 2011 Forbes interview: "For us, israeli soldiers are not just ordinary soldiers, they are our children." Thus, Danone's profits from this partnership - estimated to contribute approximately $600 million to the israeli economy - help support this military unit.OpenIntel: Danone — israel Complicity Index (Strauss Health 20% equity, Golani Brigade financing)Globes: Danone acquired 20% of Strauss Health for $66.3M (October 1996)Suara Karya: Setelah Masuk ke Strauss Group, Danone Investasi US$3,5 Juta di israel (June 2024)Yeni Şafak: Katliam finansörü Danone'nin geçmişi skandallarla dolu (January 2025)
2. $2 Million Investment in israeli Company Wilk Technologies (2023): In April 2023, Danone Manifesto Ventures - Danone's venture arm - led a $3.5 million funding round for israeli company Wilk Technologies, investing $2 million. Wilk is a Tel Aviv-based biotech company specializing in producing lab-grown milk from mammalian mammary cells. The investment aims to develop cell-based dairy and infant formula products. Danone thus directly injects capital into the israeli food-tech ecosystem.The Times of israel: French dairy giant Danone leads $3.5m investment into israeli cultured milk startup (April 2023)Investing.com: Wilk Technologies (WILK) — Danone S.A. holds 6.83% (2026)CB Insights: Danone Manifesto Ventures — Wilk investment (April 2023)
3. Jubilee Award from the israeli Government (1998): In October 1998, Franck Riboud, Danone's former CEO, received the Jubilee Award from israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The award is the highest recognition from the israeli government for individuals and organizations that have contributed to strengthening the israeli economy through investment and trade. Danone also opened an R&D facility in israil called the Danone Institute in July 1998. This historical award documents Danone's institutional role in supporting the israeli economy.Suara Karya: Danone received Jubilee Award from PM Netanyahu (June 2024)Buycott: Danone Yogurt — Franck Riboud received Jubilee Award (October 1998)OpenIntel: Danone — israel Complicity Index (Jubilee Award 1998)
4. Danone's Denial of Factories in israil While Admitting Commercial Collaboration: Danone states in its official statements that it "does not have any offices or factories in israil" and "does not support any form of aggression." However, the company acknowledged in a previous statement on its Indonesian website "business collaboration with israeli startups in the dairy and food technology sector," referring to Wilk and Strauss. In August 2025, digital forensic investigations revealed that Danone deleted these acknowledgments from its official website after media reports exposed the contradiction. This behavior indicates an attempt to conceal commercial relations with israil.Suara Karya: Danone Diduga Hapus Diam-Diam Afiliasi dengan israel dari Situs Resmi (August 2025)Danone Indonesia Official Statement (April 2025)OpenIntel: Danone — israel Complicity Index (2025 subsidiary schedule lists Strauss Health at 20%)
5. Primary Institutional Shareholders: BlackRock and Vanguard - Largest Investors in israeli Weaponry: According to shareholder data, Danone's largest shareholders are BlackRock, Inc. (7.30%) and The Vanguard Group (4.59%). Both firms are explicitly named in an official United Nations report (OHCHR) by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, identified as being "among the largest investors in arms companies pivotal to the genocidal arsenal of israel." Specifically: BlackRock is the second largest institutional investor in Palantir and third largest in Lockheed Martin and Caterpillar; Vanguard is the largest institutional investor in Caterpillar and second largest in Lockheed Martin and Elbit Systems. Consequently, the profits Danone generates flow partly to these two funds, which channel billions of dollars into the weapons industry used by israil in its genocidal war on Gaza.ADVFN: Danone (BN) Ownership Distribution — BlackRock 7.30%, Vanguard 3.95% (2026)Investing.com: Danone Ownership — BlackRock 7.30%, Vanguard 4.59% (2026)UN OHCHR: Report of the Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese (2025)
6. Stark Double Standards in Crisis Response: Although Danone has taken clear public stances on issues such as the Ukraine war, suspending new investments in Russia, it has issued no statement condemning the genocide in Gaza. Instead, the company chose "strict silence" regarding the devastation in Gaza, while continuing to deepen its partnerships with israeli companies. This stark contradiction exposes the company's claims of social responsibility and demonstrates that its ethical standards are selective.OpenIntel: Danone — israel Complicity Index (Political double standard)Suara Karya: Danone diduga hapus afiliasi israel (August 2025)

🌐 Sources

Official and verifiable sources detailing Danone's and its shareholders' involvement with israil:

• OpenIntel: Danone — israel Complicity Index (Strauss Health, Wilk, Jubilee Award, BlackRock/Vanguard)
• Globes: Danone acquired 20% of Strauss Health for $66.3M (October 1996)
• Suara Karya: Danone, Strauss Group and Wilk investment (June 2024)
• The Times of israel: Danone leads $3.5m investment into israeli cultured milk startup (April 2023)
• Investing.com: Wilk Technologies (WILK) — Danone S.A. holds 6.83% (2026)
• Suara Karya: Danone allegedly removed israel affiliation from official website (August 2025)
• Yeni Şafak: Katliam finansörü Danone'nin geçmişi skandallarla dolu (January 2025)
• ADVFN: Danone (BN) Ownership Distribution — BlackRock 7.30%, Vanguard 3.95%
• Investing.com: Danone Ownership — BlackRock 7.30%, Vanguard 4.59%
• UN OHCHR: Report of the Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese (2025)
• Danone Indonesia Official Statement (April 2025)

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