Kraft Heinz Flags Anti-ESG Sentiment as Risk for Shareholders

The Kraft Heinz Co. told shareholders in a filing Thursday that the movement opposing corporate environmental, social, and governance efforts could pose a risk to its business.

The warning comes as conservative attacks on ESG initiatives from greenhouse gas emissions reporting to diversity programs have mounted. Pushback is gathering speed under President Donald Trump, who directed federal agencies to target private-sector companies for potential investigations or litigation to root out what his administration describes as illegal diversity programs.

The food and beverage company said in its 10-K annual report that the anti-ESG sentiment could prompt “negative publicity, lawsuits, and other ...