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change, deforestation, the use of plastics and energy, animal welfare and human rights concerns and other
risks associated with the global food system is leading to increased activism focusing on consumer goods
companies, governmental intervention and consumer response, and can adversely affect our or our suppliers’
reputation and business and our ability to procure the materials we need to operate our business. The raw
materials and energy, including fuel, that we use for the manufacturing, production and distribution of our
products are largely commodities that are subject to price volatility and fluctuations in availability caused
by many factors, including changes in global supply and demand, weather conditions (including any potential
effects of climate change), fire, natural disasters (such
as a hurricane, tornado,
earthquake,
wildfire or
flooding), disease or pests (including the impact of greening disease on the citrus industry), agricultural
uncertainty, health epidemics or pandemics or other contagious outbreaks, such as the recent coronavirus,
governmental incentives and controls (including import/export restrictions, such as new or increased tariffs,
sanctions, quotas or trade barriers), limited or sole sources of supply, political uncertainties, acts of terrorism,
governmental instability or currency exchange rates. For example, concerns regarding trade relations between
the United States and China escalated during fiscal 2019, with the United States imposing tariffs on the
importation of certain Chinese goods and retaliatory Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods. Higher duties on existing
tariffs or additional tariffs imposed by the United States on a broader range of imports, or further retaliatory
trade measures taken by China or other countries in response, could result in an increase in supply chain costs
that we are not able to offset or otherwise adversely impact our results of operations. Shortage of some of
these raw materials and other supplies, sustained interruption in their supply or an increase in their costs can
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Many of our ingredients, raw
materials and commodities are purchased in the open market. The prices we pay for such items are subject
to fluctuation, and we manage this risk through the use of fixed-price contracts and purchase orders, pricing
agreements and derivative instruments, including swaps and futures. If commodity price changes result in
unexpected or significant increases in raw materials and energy costs, we may be unwilling or unable to
increase our product prices or unable to effectively hedge against commodity price increases to offset these
increased costs without suffering reduced volume, revenue, margins and operating results. In addition, certain
of the derivatives used to hedge price risk do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and, therefore, can
result in increased volatility in our net earnings in any given period due to changes in the spot prices of the
underlying commodities.
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