On 6th May 2026, animal rights activists staged a protest outside PepsiCo’s headquarters in Purchase, New York, US, urging the company to stop relying on bulls in its sugar sourcing from India. Six protesters from PETA were arrested after five of them cemented their shoes in blocks of concrete at the entrance, as the annual shareholders’ meeting got under way.
PETA said the action was meant to pressure PepsiCo to adopt animal-free methods for its sugar harvesting. Ashley Byrne, PETA’s Director of Outreach Communications, said, “In India, bulls are forced to pull trailers overloaded with sugar in extreme heat. They’re beaten, they’re hit, they’re forced to wear spiked metal devices that dig into their skin every time they try to turn their neck. The thing is that this is completely unnecessary because they could easily be replaced by mechanized options like trucks, like eco trailers.”
The activists were charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and criminal tampering after the concrete demonstration at the headquarters’ entrance. PETA linked the protest to a shareholder resolution it submitted last year, asking PepsiCo to report on whether its supply chain complies with its Global Animal Welfare Policy.
During Wednesday morning’s meeting, PETA formally presented the resolution, arguing the company should move fully to cruelty-free transport in its supply chain. Byrne said, “PepsiCo has the responsibility and the ability to bring their supply chain into the modern era, take suffering bulls out of the mix completely, and have them replaced by eco-friendly, cruelty-free trucks, trailers.”PepsiCo said its policy supports the good physical and mental well-being of animals in its direct supply chain. Shareholders rejected PETA’s resolution, although the animal rights group said it received enough support to bring it back next year.
