Who Owns Stonyfield?

Stonyfield is a certified B Corporation, a designation that requires independent verification of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. Stonyfield was among the first large food companies to pursue B Corp certification. This certification is maintained by B Lab, an independent nonprofit organization, and requires periodic recertification.

All Stonyfield products are USDA certified organic, which requires compliance with federal organic standards administered by the USDA National Organic Program. Organic certification prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, and growth hormones in dairy production. This is a federally regulated certification, not a self-reported claim.

Stonyfield sources organic milk from dairy farms that comply with USDA organic standards. The brand has historically emphasized relationships with organic dairy farmers and has supported the organic dairy farming community through various initiatives. Under Lactalis ownership, these sourcing practices have continued, though specific details about the number of supplying farms and sourcing contracts are not publicly disclosed.

Stonyfield has implemented packaging initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact, including the use of plant-based plastics in some yogurt cups. These initiatives are self-reported by the brand and should be evaluated alongside the broader context of Lactalis's corporate sustainability practices, which are reported in the group's annual activity report.

As part of Lactalis, Stonyfield's sustainability practices are integrated into the group's broader environmental framework. Lactalis reports on environmental performance through its annual activity report, covering energy use, water consumption, and waste management across its global operations. However, brand-specific sustainability metrics for Stonyfield are not separately reported in Lactalis's disclosures.

Stonyfield's most significant independent recognition is its B Corporation certification, administered by B Lab. This certification requires companies to meet verified standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. Stonyfield has maintained this certification, which distinguishes it from most conventional yogurt brands.

Stonyfield is also recognized as the best-selling certified organic yogurt brand in the United States, a market position it has maintained for several years. This ranking is based on sales data from organic food market analyses, including reports from the Organic Trade Association.

The brand's founding by Gary Hirshberg and Samuel Kaymen and its role in pioneering the organic yogurt category in the United States is widely documented in food industry publications and business case studies. Hirshberg's advocacy for organic food and environmental responsibility has been recognized by environmental organizations and sustainable business groups.

Stonyfield has not been subject to major product recalls or food safety scandals that are matters of public record. The brand operates under USDA organic certification, which requires compliance with food safety standards in addition to organic production standards.

The 2017 sale of Stonyfield by Danone to Lactalis generated some public discussion about the implications of transferring an organic, mission-driven brand to a large conventional dairy conglomerate. Gary Hirshberg, who had been a prominent advocate for organic food and environmental causes, stepped back from active management around the time of the sale. Some consumers and organic food advocates expressed concern that Lactalis's corporate structure and conventional dairy operations could dilute Stonyfield's mission-driven identity. However, Stonyfield has maintained its B Corp certification and organic certification under Lactalis ownership.

The broader organic dairy industry has faced challenges related to the consolidation of organic milk supply and pricing pressures on organic dairy farmers. These are industry-wide issues rather than brand-specific controversies, but they affect Stonyfield's supply chain and the organic dairy farming community that supplies its milk.

Lactalis itself has faced controversies unrelated to Stonyfield. In 2017, Lactalis was involved in a major salmonella contamination scandal involving infant formula produced at its Craon plant in France, which affected dozens of infants. This incident led to recalls and legal proceedings, but it was entirely separate from Stonyfield's operations and product lines.