When it comes to food choices, many of us would like to believe we have many choices. Well, what if you were to find out that most of those brands were owned by other brands and could be broken down into just ten different main brands?
The world we live in today is ruled by corporations and many brands are in cahoots with one another. If you really break things down you will find that most of the brands we know and think highly of are owned by others. There are about ten main companies that rule all we eat and drink.
Oxfam International made an infographic not too long ago going over all the different brands that are most popular and the companies that own them. This infographic is much more shocking than you might think. Some of the companies we dislike the most and try to avoid actually make some of the things we think are healthy as well. If there is a bandwagon to jump on they’ve already found it and done just that.
Coca-Cola itself owns more than 500 drink brands. They own Sprite, Minute Maid, Dasani and so much more. While you might not think you’re buying their products, you most likely are. The ten companies mentioned above can be broken down as follows. Please take a look at the infographic below before continuing on.
10 Companies That Control Just About Everything You Eat & Drink:
Coca-Cola
This soda giant also owns Honest Tea, Fuze, SmartWater, Glaceau, NOS, and Full Throttle. Sure, you might think they have different soda brands but would you ever expect them to be making water? They have it all, literally.
For a better alternative, click here or here.
Oxfam
PepsiCo
PepsiCo owns everything from RiceRoni to Tropicana. They make things like Lays potato chips, Cheetos, Cracker Jack and so much more. Oh yeah, they’re also in charge of those Quaker Oats you have every morning for breakfast.
For some better alternatives:
Chips – click here.
Cereal – click here.
Soda – click here.
Oxfam
Mondelez
As you can see Modelez not only owns companies like Ritz, Triscuit, or Wheat Thins. They also make Oreos, Teddy Grahams, and even Tolberone. This one was formerly known as Kraft Foods by the way.
For some better alternatives:
Cookies – click here.
Crackers – click here.
Drink mix – click here.
Oxfam
Nestle
Not only does Nestle make chocolate and hot cocoa, but they also make baby food. They own DiGiorno, Perrier, Caro, and well the list is quite long. Personally, I don’t see how a company could get so big, but they sure have.
For better alternatives:
Candy – click here.
Sparkling water – click here.
Hot chocolate – click here.
Baby food – click here.
Oxfam
Kellog’s
Sure, Kellog’s owns Eggo, Pringles, Nutrigrain, and Pop Tarts but is that it? Nope, they also own brands like Kashi, Town House, and even Keebler Elf Products. While this is a bit lower on the list, they still have so many different common household names under their belt.
Oxfam
MARS
MARS makes up a nice chunk of our chocolate favorites. They own M & M, Milky Way, Dove, and 3 Musketeers. That being said, they also own Juicy Fruit, 5 Gum, Orbit, Extra, Uncle Bens, Life Savers, Starburst, and Skittles.
Oxfam
Unilever
While you might not have heard much about this company they own a good variety of brands. They own Magnum (ice cream), Ben & Jerry’s, Skippy, I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter!, Wish-Bone, and even Slim Fast.
Oxfam
General Mills
General Mills owns about 25 different cereal brands and also those delicious Totinos pizza rolls we love so much. They own Fruit by The Foot, Bisquick, Hamburger Helper, Nature’s Valley, and even Yoplait. The list just keeps going on.
Oxfam
Danone
Danone might seem to be something you would for the most part just associate with Dannon but they also own Evian water, Oikos, Actimel, and a lot more. Their list is a bit more limited but still quite interesting.
Oxfam
Associated British Foods
Last but not least is ABF with the smallest section. They own Mazola, Burgen, Ryvita Biscuits, Twinings Tea, and more. You just can’t avoid companies like these. They are everywhere even when you least expect them to be.
Oxfam
(Images Via: Oxfam)