Business Code of Conduct
Spices are grown by millions of smallholder farmers and pass through many hands before they reach an American food plant. This code sets out what we expect of ourselves and of every supplier in that chain.
Our Commitments
Human Rights and Labor
- We do not tolerate forced labor, bonded labor or child labor anywhere in our supply chain
- Workers must be free to associate, to bargain collectively and to leave their employment
- Wages and hours must meet or exceed local law and industry norms
- Workplaces must be safe, and workers must be trained and equipped for the hazards they face
Food Safety and Integrity
- Products must be pure, unadulterated and accurately described
- Economically motivated adulteration, including undeclared fillers, dyes or substitution, results in immediate and permanent removal from our approved supplier list
- Suppliers must maintain records sufficient to trace product to the growing region and, where possible, the farm or collection point
Environment
- Agrochemicals must be used legally, responsibly and only when needed, with residues meeting U.S. tolerances
- We favor suppliers who protect soil, water and forest and who can document it
- Our own facilities measure and reduce energy, water and waste every year
Ethical Business Practice
- No bribes, kickbacks or facilitation payments, in any country, for any reason
- Accurate books and records, honest documentation and full cooperation with customs authorities
- Confidential treatment of customer formulations, volumes and plans
How We Verify
Every supplier signs this code before the first purchase. Our buyers visit principal origins on a rotating schedule and document what they see. Where risk warrants, we commission third-party social compliance audits.
HELM, our platform, supports the human work. It screens every supplier and its principals against restricted party lists on each transaction, monitors public sources for adverse reports, and tracks audit findings and corrective actions against deadlines. When a flag is raised, a person reviews it and decides. Read more about sourcing intelligence.
Raising a Concern
Anyone, inside or outside Spice Admiral, may report a concern about conduct in our supply chain by writing to inquiries@spiceadmiral.com. Reports are reviewed by senior management. We do not retaliate against anyone who raises a concern in good faith, and we will keep the reporter's identity confidential to the extent the law allows.
