Registry
Does Philadelphia support Israel?
Yes — Philadelphia has documented support for Israel on record. Every claim below links to its source.
Filed under: Food & beverage brands · Companies that support Israel
Background
Philadelphia is a cream-cheese brand owned by Mondelez International (it came to Mondelez through the Kraft Foods heritage business), and no donation, in-kind gift, sponsorship or statement of support for Israel, its government or its military has been documented for the Philadelphia brand. Its Israeli presence is import-only: the product is manufactured abroad and brought to Israel by Neto, an independent Israeli food group, which suspended sales in February 2017 over a preservative that Israeli cheese standards do not allow. In June 2019 Calcalist, citing the Daily Telegraph, reported that Mondelez was considering selling the Philadelphia brand to concentrate on chocolate; the brand was not sold and remains with Mondelez. Parent-level Israel activity documented on the Mondelez page is commercial: the 2019 collaboration with The Kitchen FoodTech incubator owned by Israel's Strauss Group, and 2020 and 2022 investments in the Israeli startup Torr FoodTech. Neither Philadelphia nor Mondelez appears on the BDS movement's official targeted-boycott list.
Ynet (Hebrew) — Marketing of Philadelphia cheese halted in Israel Calcalist (Hebrew) — Mondelez to part with the Philadelphia cream cheese brand BDS Movement — official boycott guide (Philadelphia/Mondelez not listed)
Documented support
| Type | Date | Amount | Recipient | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations in Israel | 2017-02 | — | Neto Group (independent Israeli food importer and marketer) Philadelphia cream cheese is not made in Israel: it is imported finished and marketed there by Neto, an independent Israeli food group. Ynet and Globes reported in February 2017 that Neto had halted marketing of Philadelphia in Israel after the global manufacturer changed a formula ingredient — adding the natural preservative natamycin (E-235), which is permitted under US rules but not permitted in white cheeses under the Israeli standard. Neto said the 33%-fat carton pack was expected to return to shelves the following month, while the cup formats would return only if the Health Ministry approved them. The acting party in Israel is the independent importer; Mondelez has no Philadelphia plant or subsidiary in Israel, and the episode is a regulatory and commercial matter, not a donation or political act. |
Frequently asked questions
Did Philadelphia donate money to Israel or Israeli causes?
We have no records of cash donations, but Philadelphia has documented support of other kinds (Operations in Israel). See the records on this page.
Where does this information come from?
Every record on this page links to its source — news reports, official company statements, tax filings, or government records. 3 distinct sources are cited for Philadelphia. Our methodology page explains the full verification process.
Sources & citations
Record last updated: 2026-07-30