Cuisinart
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
US kitchen brand known for food processors and coffee makers.
Forced labour was found in Cuisinart's supply chain in 2016, and we couldn't confirm where it makes most of its kitchen appliances and cookware.
Also worth knowing
Most homewares and appliances are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where pay is usually below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production, probably in high-risk countries and forced or child labour. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record: the most serious problem on its record (forced labour, last recorded in 2016) is more than 5 years old.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere homewares and appliances are usually made, such as China and India, unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Not met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Met: High-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Probably made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Forced, slave or child labour found in or linked to its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
We couldn't confirm where Cuisinart makes most of its products, so this shows where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 50% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 10% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Poland | 10% | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- No high-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
- Modern slavery statement
Research notes Conair says most Cuisinart products are made by independent manufacturers in Asia, mainly the Far East, and does not name countries, shares or factories. It runs its own and third-party audits against the ETI Base Code and its UK statement for 2026 describes corrective action plans, but it publishes no results and makes no living wage commitment. Its Canadian forced labour report for 2023 says it found no cases of forced or child labour.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | The Conair Group Limited's UK modern slavery statement for 2026 (signed January 2026) says most suppliers are in the Far East and are audited, but publishes no findings. View |
Confirmed issues 1
Only confirmed problems are listed, and old ones drop off after 10 to 15 years. A problem the company has fully put right no longer counts against it, and nor does one it finds and is fixing itself. How problems are counted
| Last recorded | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | China Labor Watch (2016) found workers' IDs held, forced 12-15 hour days, illegal deductions, unpaid student wages and no protective gear at the Cuori appliance factory in Zhejiang while it made Cuisinart products. Source · search the archive | Not knownNo public response from Cuisinart or Conair found. |
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- China Labor Watch's 2016 'Dirty Frying Pans' investigation of five Chinese cookware factories, reporting toxic dust, unpaid social insurance and faked safety training, listed Cuisinart among brands the factories supplied, without tying a factory to its products. Source
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Labor Rights Violations in Walmart and Home Depot's Supplier Factory (China Labor Watch, 2016) · search the archive · Cuori factory made Cuisinart products; ID retention, forced overtime, wage deductions and safety failures.
- China Labor Watch: Cuisinart brand page · search the archive · CLW reports referring to Cuisinart (2016).
- The toxic work environments that produce your pots and pans (The Nation, 2016) · search the archive · CLW cookware investigation listed Cuisinart among brands supplied by the factories.
- Conair Acquired by American Securities (Paul, Weiss, 2021) · search the archive · Conair, owner of Cuisinart, sold to American Securities in 2021; Rizzuto family members kept a minority stake.
Published by Cuisinart or its owner
- Cuisinart UK Modern Slavery Statement · search the archive · Statement for FY2026 signed 10 Jan 2026; most suppliers in the Far East; audits to ETI Base Code; corrective action plans; parent Conair LLC.
- Conair Canada: Fighting Against Forced and Child Labour Report 2023 · search the archive · Most products from unrelated makers in Asia; audits to ETI Base Code; no forced or child labour cases found.
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Cuisinart ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/cuisinart, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Cuisinart.