Barilla

How ethical is Barilla?

Barilla is a brand which has a below-benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Pasta, Pulses & Rice Ratings Table. Although Barilla has not yet met our ethical benchmark, we hope to see the brand make progress in the future.

We would have extra confidence in Barilla if it submitted itself to apply for Ethical Accreditation, whereby The Good Shopping Guide would make further detailed assessment and recommendations for ethical improvement.

Find out more about the ethical issues facing the Ethical Pasta, Pulses & Rice sector.

What does Barilla do?

Barilla founded in 1877 as a bakery shop in Parma, Italy by Pietro Barilla Sr. The company is now based in New York.

In which areas does Barilla perform poorly?

Barilla gets a bottom rating for Animal Welfare, as the brand does permit animal testing when required by law. Find out more about how we rate by exploring our ethical criteria.

Past Criticisms of Barilla’s record

In 2022 a federal judge ruled that Barilla would face a class-action lawsuit for false or deceptive advertising, stating that customers could be misled by the phrase “Italy’s No. 1 brand of pasta” when its products are now made in the US.

In which areas does Barilla score well for its ethics?

Barilla gets a top score for its Environmental Report as it has a Sustainability Report 2022 which  contains targets for carbon emissions, water usage and more. It also gets a top score for our GM and Organic criteria as it is GMO-free and has bio pasta certified by EU Leaf.

We found no criticisms of Barilla relating to Nuclear, Fossil Fuels, Political Donations or Armaments so it scores well for these criteria.

How can Barilla improve its ethical rating?

The below-benchmark score that Barilla is awarded on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Pasta, Pulses & Rice Ratings Table is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria.

To reach our minimum ethical benchmark and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, Barilla has some issues to resolve, including  its lack of organic certification. If it applies for Ethical Accreditation, The Good Shopping Guide will be able to give Barilla some guidance to improve.

Were you aware that your brand could benefit from Ethical Accreditation? Brands accredited by The Good Shopping Guide can display our Ethical Mark, showcasing to consumers that it is an ethical and sustainable brand. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.