Food Empowerment Project

Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 by activist Lauren Ornelas and based in San Luis Obispo, California. Its work centers on the idea that individual and collective food choices can contribute to a more just and sustainable society. Rather than treating food solely as a matter of personal nutrition or consumer preference, the organization examines the social, environmental, and labor consequences embedded in food production and distribution. The organization’s advocacy combines vegan and animal-rights concerns with food-justice analysis. Its public education work addresses abuse of animals in industrial agriculture, the depletion of natural resources, exploitative or unsafe working conditions affecting farm and food workers, and unequal access to healthy food in low-income communities. This gives F.E.P. a broad positioning at the intersection of ethical consumption, social justice, environmental activism, and plant-based advocacy. F.E.P. is composed of activists with backgrounds in animal rights, environmental work, and social-justice organizing. Its activities have included corporate accountability campaigns, research reports, consumer education, food-access analysis, school-supply support for children of farm workers, and guidance concerning the labor and human-rights implications of food products. The organization’s chocolate research is a notable example of its approach: beginning in January 2011, it investigated whether companies making vegan products with chocolate could identify cocoa sources linked to countries where child labor and slavery have been documented. F.E.P. has maintained and updated a public list of companies based on the information it receives and verifies. Its first corporate campaign focused on Clif Bar & Company and the company’s disclosure of cocoa sourcing. F.E.P. raised concerns about cocoa from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, countries that together supply a substantial share of global cocoa and where child labor and, in some cases, slavery had been reported in cocoa production. The campaign concluded on December 2, 2014, when F.E.P. announced that Clif Bar had publicly disclosed that its cocoa sources included both countries. Food access and retail geography have also been central to the organization’s research. In March 2009, F.E.P. began surveying supermarkets, convenience stores, and other food retailers in Santa Clara County. The resulting 2010 report, “Shining a Light on the Valley of Heart’s Delight,” compared food environments in higher- and lower-income communities. It reported that higher-income areas had more than twice as many large supermarkets per capita, while lower-income communities had nearly twice as many liquor stores and substantially more markets dominated by meat products. F.E.P. used these findings to argue that residents’ food choices are constrained by unequal retail environments rather than determined only by individual preference. The group has also participated in policy advocacy. In April 2008, it supported California Senate Bill 1443, a proposal that would have required written contracts between retail food facilities and purchasers to include an option allowing leftover food to be directed to a nonprofit food bank or made available to the purchaser. In January 2022, F.E.P. launched a boycott of Amy’s Kitchen after workers reported injuries, low wages, unreliable health care, unsafe equipment, blocked fire exits, inadequate breaks and water access, and production demands associated with repetitive-stress injuries. The boycott was called for by workers and supported by Veggie Mijas. It ended on June 12, 2024, after discussions with Amy’s executives and reported commitments involving wages, workplace safety, bilingual benefits assistance, and the company’s stated decision not to use labor-relations consultants. In 2024, F.E.P. also transitioned to a collective operational model, indicating a move away from a conventional single-leader structure.

Food Empowerment Project was established in 2006 by Lauren Ornelas as a nonprofit project focused on the ethical and social consequences of food production. Its founding premise was that food choices have effects beyond the individual consumer: they influence animal welfare, environmental conditions, agricultural labor, and the availability of nutritious food in different communities. F.E.P. therefore developed an approach combining vegan advocacy with food-justice research and social-justice organizing. The organization’s early work included policy advocacy. In April 2008, it supported California Senate Bill 1443, which addressed the disposition of surplus food. The bill would have required a written contract between a retail food facility and a purchaser to include an option allowing leftover food to be donated to a nonprofit food bank or provided to the purchaser. This position reflected F.E.P.’s interest in reducing food waste while improving access to food through nonprofit and community channels. F.E.P. later conducted a detailed examination of unequal food access in Santa Clara County. Starting in March 2009, it surveyed supermarkets, convenience stores, and other food retailers. The research was published in 2010 as “Shining a Light on the Valley of Heart’s Delight.” The report described major differences between communities: higher-income areas had more than twice as many large supermarkets per capita, while lower-income communities had nearly twice as many liquor stores and 50 percent more markets selling an abundance of meat products. F.E.P. presented these patterns as evidence that healthy and ethical food choices are shaped by neighborhood infrastructure and income, not simply by consumer willpower. Beginning in January 2011, the organization broadened its consumer research into vegan chocolate products. It investigated whether manufacturers could identify the origins of cocoa used in their products, with particular concern for cocoa from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, where child labor and slavery had been reported in parts of the cocoa sector. F.E.P. created and maintained a public company list intended to help consumers evaluate chocolate sourcing and to encourage manufacturers to improve supply-chain transparency. The organization’s first corporate campaign targeted Clif Bar & Company, an energy-bar and beverage producer. F.E.P. objected to what it regarded as insufficient disclosure about the sources of the company’s chocolate. On December 2, 2014, F.E.P. declared the campaign successful after Clif Bar publicly disclosed that its cocoa sources included Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The campaign established a recurring pattern in F.E.P.’s work: combine research and public education with consumer pressure, then assess companies according to their responses to labor and human-rights concerns. Alongside its research and campaigns, F.E.P. has operated community-oriented programs. It holds an annual school-supply drive for children of farm workers, extending its food-system analysis into practical support for agricultural communities. The organization has also continued to publish educational materials concerning veganism, food access, animal agriculture, environmental effects, and the treatment of workers throughout the food chain. In January 2022, F.E.P. began a boycott of Amy’s Kitchen after workers raised concerns about wages, health care, workplace injuries, production pressure, defective equipment, blocked fire exits, bathroom access, clean water, and other safety issues. Workers described production targets that included rolling 10 to 12 burritos per minute and assembling as many as 72 plates per minute on an understaffed line. The boycott was supported by Veggie Mijas and was presented as a worker-led action rather than simply a consumer protest. After eight months of discussions with Amy’s executives, F.E.P. ended the boycott on June 12, 2024. Reported gains included higher wages, stronger safety measures, bilingual representatives to assist workers with company benefits, and a commitment that the company would not use labor-relations consultants. F.E.P. received GreatNonprofits’ 2012 Top-Rated Award. In 2024, it transitioned to a collective operational model. The available reference material does not identify a current chief executive or a permanent individual successor to the founder. Its continuing identity is that of a small activist organization using food research, campaigns, consumer action, and community support to connect plant-based choices with broader questions of justice and sustainability.

• 2024

  Amy’s Kitchen boycott ends

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  The boycott ended on June 12 following discussions and reported commitments involving wages, safety, benefits assistance, and labor-relations consultants.

• 2024

  Transition to collective operations

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  F.E.P. moved to a collective operational model.

• 2022

  Amy’s Kitchen boycott begins

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  F.E.P. launched a boycott of Amy’s Kitchen in response to worker reports concerning pay, safety, health care, and production conditions.

• 2014

  Clif Bar cocoa campaign reaches stated victory

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  F.E.P. announced that Clif Bar had disclosed cocoa sources that included Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

• 2012

  GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Award

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Food Empowerment Project received GreatNonprofits’ Top-Rated Award.

• 2011

  Vegan chocolate sourcing research begins

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  F.E.P. began researching cocoa sourcing by vegan-product companies, with an emphasis on child-labor and slavery risks in cocoa-producing regions.

• 2010

  Food-access report published

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  F.E.P. published “Shining a Light on the Valley of Heart’s Delight,” reporting substantial differences in supermarket and food-retail access between higher- and lower-income areas.

• 2009

  Santa Clara County food-retail survey begins

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  The organization began surveying food retailers in Santa Clara County to examine differences in food availability across communities.

• 2008

  Support for California Senate Bill 1443

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  F.E.P. supported proposed legislation concerning the donation or redistribution of leftover food from retail food facilities.

• 2006

  Food Empowerment Project founded

  [1]Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Lauren Ornelas founded the nonprofit organization to connect food choices with animal protection, environmental sustainability, labor rights, and food justice.

An activist nonprofit using food choices, research, consumer pressure, and community organizing to link veganism with animal protection, environmental responsibility, equitable food access, and labor rights.

• Consumer research and guide · 2011

  Ethical Chocolate List

  A frequently updated research resource concerning companies that make vegan products containing chocolate. The project examines whether companies disclose cocoa sources and whether their supply chains may involve regions where child labor or slavery has been documented. It is intended to help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions while encouraging brands to provide stronger cocoa-sourcing transparency.

• Food-justice research report · 2010

  Shining a Light on the Valley of Heart’s Delight

  A 2010 report based on F.E.P.’s survey of supermarkets, convenience stores, and other food retailers in Santa Clara County. It compared food environments across income levels and highlighted unequal access to large supermarkets, fresh and healthy options, and retail settings dominated by liquor or meat products.

• Community-support program

  Annual school-supply drive

  An annual initiative providing school supplies for children of farm workers. The program complements F.E.P.’s broader focus on agricultural labor communities and the social conditions surrounding food production.

• 2022Amy’s Kitchen boycott

  United States

  F.E.P. supported a worker-called boycott of Amy’s Kitchen over reported injuries, low wages, unreliable health care, unsafe equipment, blocked fire exits, insufficient breaks and water access, and intense production requirements. Veggie Mijas also supported the action.

  Outcome. The boycott ended on June 12, 2024, after discussions with Amy’s executives. Reported gains included wage increases, additional workplace-safety measures, bilingual benefits assistance, and a commitment not to use labor-relations consultants.

  Source
• 2014Clif Bar cocoa disclosure campaign

  United States

  F.E.P.’s first corporate campaign pressed Clif Bar & Company to disclose the origin of the cocoa used in its products, citing documented child-labor and slavery concerns in parts of the West African cocoa sector.

  Outcome. On December 2, 2014, F.E.P. declared victory after Clif Bar publicly disclosed cocoa sources that included Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

  Source
• 2011Vegan chocolate sourcing campaign and research

  United States · International cocoa supply chain

  F.E.P. began investigating cocoa sourcing by companies making vegan chocolate products, focusing on transparency and labor-rights risks in cocoa-producing countries.

  Outcome. The organization developed a public, frequently updated company list; the available material does not provide a complete account of all company responses.

  Source
• 2008California Senate Bill 1443 advocacy

  United States · California

  F.E.P. supported a proposal that would have allowed retail-food purchasers to direct leftover food toward nonprofit food banks or receive it themselves through contractual arrangements.

  Outcome. The reference material records F.E.P.’s support but does not establish the bill’s final legislative outcome.

  Source

• 2024

  Transition to a collective operational modelStrategy

  Background

  F.E.P. changed its organizational operating structure in 2024. The available reference does not specify the complete governance arrangements or the roles held by individual participants.

  Action taken

  The organization adopted a collective operational model rather than presenting its work through a conventional single-leader structure.

  Aftermath

  F.E.P. remained active in food-justice, vegan, labor-rights, and community-support work; no further structural outcomes are specified.

  Source

1. 1Food Empowerment Projecten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Food Empowerment Project official websitefoodispower.org