The company emphasizes that materials used in its products are acquired under ethical and fair labor conditions. This approach supports robust labor rights and aligns McCormick with anti-fascist values that prioritize worker welfare and oppose exploitation.

Ethical Supply Chains

McCormick’s adoption of its Global Human Rights Policy demonstrates a strong commitment to upholding labor rights and ethical treatment of its workers, suppliers, and partners. The policy outlines clear standards on non-discrimination, privacy, and fair labor practices, and it actively prohibits forced labor and child labor. Although it represents the company's minimum standards rather than best-in-class practices, the initiative is a positive step towards promoting human rights and aligns well with anti-fascist principles that emphasize worker protection and social justice.

Human Rights Policy - McCormick & Company

The OpenSecrets profile shows that McCormick & Co did not report any lobbying of the federal government during the 2024 election cycle. From an anti-fascist perspective, abstaining from direct political lobbying to potentially support authoritarian policies is a positive indicator.

McCormick & Co Profile: Summary • OpenSecrets

McCormick & Co's political contributions and lobbying profile shows only a nominal contribution of $19,960 with zero reported lobbying or outside spending for the 2024 cycle. This indicates a low level of corporate engagement in political activities, reducing the risk of the company being complicit in bolstering authoritarian or fascist ideologies.

McCormick & Co Profile: Summary • OpenSecrets

The company emphasizes the protection of workers throughout its supply chain, reflecting a conscientious approach to supply chain ethics. Their dedication to ethical sourcing and fair labor standards supports a more humane global supply chain.

Respecting Human Rights | McCormick & Company

McCormick’s policy explicitly avoids direct political contributions to candidates and mandates that any political initiatives be pre-approved. However, the policy also emphasizes participation in industry trade associations that engage in lobbying and political education. From an anti-fascist perspective, even indirect support through lobbying can contribute to an environment where corporate interests shape public policy, which raises concerns about corporate complicity in power dynamics that may erode accountability and democratic processes.

Political Activity Policy

McCormick’s policy clearly prohibits direct contributions to political candidates and disallows maintenance or sponsorship of PACs, reflecting a commitment to legal compliance and transparency. However, the company’s active participation in trade associations that engage in lobbying and political education programs means that corporate funds indirectly support initiatives which can favor entrenched power structures and authoritarian practices. This entanglement poses concerns about the company’s role in reinforcing systems that undermine democratic accountability.

Political Activity Policy

McCormick & Company’s disclosure for fiscal year 2023 confirms that the company has abstained from making any direct political contributions or engaging in financial support for political candidates and committees. This positive stance reinforces their policy of political neutrality and minimizes potential complicity in enabling authoritarian or far-right agendas.

Political Contributions 2023

McCormick’s Political Activity Policy explicitly prohibits contributions to political candidates and campaigns, reflecting a commitment to ethical corporate political behavior. The policy establishes clear guidelines by outlining the use of funds strictly for approved political initiatives under a government oversight committee. Although the company does engage in advocacy through political initiatives at state and local levels, the transparency and strict limitations lessen the risk of complicity in authoritarian influence, particularly when compared to companies that actively finance political entities without oversight.

Under anti-fascist scrutiny, McCormick's policy, while transparent and in compliance with legal requirements, reflects a corporate practice of using political funds to influence policy outcomes. Their strict prohibition on direct candidate contributions is positive, but the reserved use of corporate funds for Political Initiatives and trade association dues may still serve to bolster corporate clout in political processes, indirectly perpetuating power imbalances that can favor authoritarian outcomes.

Political Activity Policy | McCormick & Company

McCormick's disclosure shows that they have not engaged in political contributions or lobbying efforts that could support authoritarian practices. By refraining from donating to candidates or maintaining a PAC, the company aligns with anti-fascist principles, ensuring that its financial practices do not indirectly bolster authoritarian regimes.

Political Contributions 2023

The article highlights that McCormick & Co spent $105,000 on lobbying in 2019. From an anti-fascist perspective, even moderate lobbying activities can contribute to undue corporate influence over political processes and support policies that may undermine democratic practices. This rating reflects concerns over the company's involvement in political lobbying, which can facilitate the advance of authoritarian interests.

McCormick & Co Lobbying Profile • OpenSecrets

The disclosed political contributions show that McCormick & Company maintains a policy to avoid candidate contributions by limiting its donations to politically affiliated committees such as Governor Hogan's 2nd Inaugural Committee. Although this demonstrates adherence to internal policy, the presence of non-deductible lobbying expenditures indicates involvement in political lobbying which, from a left-leaning perspective, contributes to corporate influence over public policy and supports structures that can enable authoritarian practices.

Political Contributions 2019