Looks independent. Isn’t.

Purely Elizabeth — sold to Ferrero in August 2026 for $850M. Had already taken money from General Mills’ venture arm and two PE firms.

ByHeart — the worst record on the list: a November 2025 infant botulism outbreak, 15+ babies hospitalized, contamination confirmed in unopened cans. Production paused.

WaterWipes — a UK private equity firm bought a majority stake in December 2024 for €145M.

Maple Hill Creamery — bought in December 2025 by Horizon Organic, which is itself owned by Platinum Equity. PE two layers deep.

Boll & Branch — $100M from L Catterton’s buyout fund in 2019, logged as an LBO.

Rael — TowerBrook, a $30B PE firm that typically takes majority stakes, bought in; Unilever Ventures is also an investor.

Stanley — its owner PMI was acquired in 2021 by HAVI, a supply-chain conglomerate. Plus a 2024 recall of 2.6M mugs.

Vermont Smoke & Cure — bought by Johnsonville in 2020. I only found this while checking a different company.

Parachute — a PE database lists H.I.G. Capital, a large buyout firm, as owner. Closed its stores.

Bee’s Wrap — sold in 2021 to an investor who won’t be named. New CEO spent 16 years at P&G.

Forager Project — still family-run, but Danone’s venture arm holds a stake, brought in by Stonyfield’s founder — whose own company Danone invested in and then bought.

California Olive Ranch — owned by private equity for over a decade, then sold in 2026 to an Australian public company. I had it as “independent, California-grown.”

Pete & Gerry’s / Nellie’s — majority-owned by a private equity firm since 2021.

Ethique — founder sold 75% to a New York PE firm in 2020, fully exited 2024.

Alter Eco — acquired by a San Francisco PE firm in 2017, funded by the Carrefour family.

Wild Planet — bought in 2021 by an Italian conglomerate that also makes glue and cosmetics.

Puracy — acquired in 2021 by an Amazon-brand aggregator. The founder had said he planned to sell.

Kite Hill — largest investor is General Mills; a PE firm also holds a stake; founders don’t run it.

Califia Farms — majority-owned by a large fruit company, with sovereign wealth funds and PE as minority holders.

Tony’s Chocolonely — 64% of voting rights held by the AB InBev family’s investment company. Has a real mission lock. Still not independent.

Klean Kanteen — bought in 2024 by a UK holding company that rolls up sustainable brands.

Miyoko’s — founder ousted 2022, insolvent 2025, bought out of liquidation.

Kettle & Fire — $43M “secondary buyout” in 2025; the investor’s founder is now CEO.

The Honest Kitchen — $150M from an alternative-capital firm on top of two PE stakes; PitchBook lists it PE-backed.

Ripple — $291M raised, founders gone, CEO is ex-General Mills.

Truman’s — seed round led by Henkel, the giant behind Persil and Dial.

Pact — holding-company owned since 2011, PE stake since 2016.

Harry’s — now Mammoth Brands: shaving, deodorant and diapers.

Amy’s Kitchen — the one that failed on record: NLRB charges, eight serious Cal/OSHA violations, a two-year boycott.

Nutiva — owned by two private equity firms from 2016, then sold in August 2024 to a buyer the announcement wouldn’t name. I had it as independent.

Truff — a private equity firm took a significant minority stake in 2023, reported at around $80M. Founders still run it. On the fence, not the list.

Boka — bought by Heyday in 2022, then rolled into Essor, a roll-up with brands in five aisles and a cap table of PE and VC firms. Still markets itself as a challenger brand.

Osea — General Atlantic took a growth stake in September 2025 with two board seats; the founders stepped back from the CEO role seven weeks later.

Pacifica — Brentwood Associates, a private equity firm, took a stake in January 2022 and installed a new CEO.

Dropps — The Craftory, a $375M investment house, holds a stake and its co-founder chairs the board; the founder left the CEO seat in June 2026.

Ursa Major — Fenwick Brands, a private equity fund, has led its financing since 2019. Founders still run it. On the fence. A January 2026 local profile called it independently owned and never mentioned Fenwick.

Cleancult — $25M Series B in 2021 from Vanterra Capital and six other firms, two of which took board seats. On the fence.

Cloud Paper — Greycroft, Bezos Expeditions and TIME Ventures. On the fence — and possibly winding down; it has vanished from Greycroft’s portfolio page.

Caboo — Renewal Funds took a minority stake in 2021. On the fence.

Earth Breeze — a venture firm took a minority stake in April 2025. No press release exists; two databases agree. On the fence until a primary source turns up.