WHEREAS PepsiCo affirms that “animals deserve lives free from physical and mental suffering” and “supports the adoption of high standards of animal husbandry.” To this end, our company urges suppliers and partners to follow its Global Policy on Animal Welfare and expects adherence to its Global Supplier Code of Conduct. Further, our company has acknowledged that regular progress reporting is integral to achieving its long-term vision of good animal health. Despite these commitments, our company's bottling partner in India sources sugar in Maharashtra for Pepsi-branded beverages, whereby bulls are forced to haul carts that are illegally overloaded with up to four tons of sugarcane, causing painful abscesses, muscle tears, and other serious health issues. Forced to work from dawn until after dark, bulls are also beaten with sticks and whips, stabbed by barbed wire spikes attached to their yokes, and suffer infections from thick nose ropes. Some are literally worked to death. These practices do not align with PepsiCo policies and appear to violate multiple Indian animal protection laws. PepsiCo and its partners also source sugar from other regions – including Asia, South America, and North Africa – where animals are still used to haul or crush sugarcane. Eco-tractors – which have already been adopted by many sugar suppliers in Maharashtra – eliminate animal suffering, enhance human welfare, and improve production efficiency. PepsiCo has the opportunity to move the industry forward by requiring its suppliers and partners to source sugar that is free from animal labor. Yet, the company continues to rely on outdated, inhumane, and inefficient transport methods, risking its reputation and operational integrity. Failure to uphold publicly stated values and policies can erode consumer trust and may ultimately impact shareholder value.