East Rutherford, NJ – On December 20, 2025 holiday shoppers at the American Dream Mall were surprised by an unexpected spectacle as members of the activist group Rainforest Action Network and allies deployed two story banners from the balcony of the iconic Oreo Cafe in East Rutherford, NJ. Activists say the protest is meant to draw attention to Oreo maker and snack food giant Mondelēz and the company’s dismal forest protection policies and a lack of policies protecting human rights defenders.
Mondelēz, maker of Oreo, Ritz, Chips Ahoy!, and countless other snack foods, has made many claims about “proactive, and ongoing human rights due diligence,” yet even after years of pressure from activists citing evidence of forest destruction and negative community impacts, recent research still names the company as having some of the weakest policies and falling short of the concrete actions and implementation mechanisms needed to drive real change.
Banners reading “Oreo: Destroying Forests Isn’t Very Merry” and “Oreo: Get a Human Rights Defender Policy” were unfurled alongside the 60 foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty outside the Oreo Cafe — which is holding a bag of Oreo cookies instead of the legal tablet of the actual statue.
“The holiday season is shopping and snacking season — but should also be the season for caring for each and caring for our planet. And we can’t let Mondelēz forget the massive negative impact they are having on forests, on communities, and on families whose lives have been turned upside down all in the name of cheaper snacks and bigger profits for companies like Mondelēz,” said Maggie Martin, Senior Forest Campaigner at Rainforest Action Network.
Using evidence obtained through field investigations, satellite imagery analysis and supply chain research, RAN’s investigations have proven that palm oil produced in the Leuser Ecosystem in Sumatra, Indonesia continues to make its way into the products sold by Mondelēz. Communities that depend on these forests often face violence and intimidation or see their land stolen.
“Companies must take meaningful action to uphold rights throughout their supply chain. Certification schemes are not enough. They do not eliminate deforestation and they do not protect human rights,” said Martin.
Rainforest Action Network’s 2025 Keep Forests Standing scorecard reveals slow, uneven and inadequate progress across the world’s most influential brands. Mondelēz was the weakest performer across nearly all indicators. It continues to omit clear commitments to protect Human Rights Defenders and has not published a grievance tracker.
© Erik McGregor – erikrivas@hotmail.com – 917-225-8963