ETHICS IN FOOD INDUSTRY (2)

8/7/2019 ETHICS IN FOOD INDUSTRY (2)

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ETHICS IN FOOD INDUSTRY

Business Ethics


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Group Members

Akanksha Shrivastava (10IB-007)

Chhavi Agarwal (10IT-013)

Pratima Rao Gunta (10IT-021)

Rajesh Mohan (10FN-088)

Rudra Shankar Chowdhury(10FN-097)

Shamindra Mukherjee (10FN-138)


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Roadmap Introduction

Ethical consideration for business

Ethical consideration for consumers

Ethical issues in marketing

Genetically modified food

Ethical issues in infant food industry Baby food

Packaging

Breeding of animals

Harmful chemical food additives Analysis of the practices

Recommendations Ethical matrix

Relevant statistics


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Introduction

Ethics refers to the values, principles andcodes by which people live.

Food and ethics are intimately connected.

Whether youre a food producer, business,

consumer or policy-maker, decisions aboutfood involve consideration of the health and

welfare of our planet, people and animals.


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AQuoteA half-century after the Bengal

famine [where, during Britishcolonial rule, most of the foodgrown was exported for tradeand for UK, instead of feedinghungry local people], a newand clever system has beenput in place which is onceagain making the theft of theharvest a right and the keepingof harvest a crime. Hiddenbehind complex free-tradetreaties are innovative ways tosteal nature's harvest, the

harvest of the seed, and theharvest of nutrition.

Vandana Shiva, StolenHarvest (South End Press,2000), p.


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Ethical Consideration for Business and

Consumers

Consider whether your customers

would continue with food

produced/served by you, if they knewwhere it came from.

Value all your stakeholders, and

consider anything that matters in its

own right- a farm animal or even an

ecosystem- as a stakeholder.

When buying food, go for fresh,

unprocessed and unpackaged food as and

when you need it.

Eat organic, fairly traded fruit and

vegetables, and less but better quality meatand dairy and sustainably caught fish.


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Ethical Issues in Marketing

Clustering of fast food

restaurants around

educational institutions

Marketing of beverages

in and around educational

institutions

Eating your greens


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Ethical Issues in Marketing(Contd.)

Discounted Pricing

ChildrensFood

Misleading Commercials

Pricingofhealthfood


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Genetically Modified Food (Contd.)

The transfer of genes from animals whose flesh is forbidden for use

as food by certain religious groups (e.g. pigs for Muslims and

Jews) to animals they normally eat.

The introduction of animal genes into food crops

The use, as animal feed, of organisms containing human genes.

The practice will be unfair to the under developed/ small farmers

whose cost of production will naturally be higher than those of the

developed world utilizing the latest practices. Modification in food chain

Terminator technology. Example : Monsanto/Syngenta

Narrowing of gene

Domination of food production by a few countries


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Ethical Issues inInfantFood Industry

Is food manufactured to support adequate growth of infants

under six months of age when fed as a sole source of

nutrition.

Is necessarily an imperfect approximation of mothers milk.

Is made by blending similar materials in an attempt to match

the characteristics of true milk

Main types: powdered formula, concentrated liquid formula ,

Ready-to-use formula.


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Reasons to Use InfantFormula

The mother's health

The baby is unable to breastfeed

Personal preferences and beliefs

absence of the mother

Food allergies

Financial pressures

Societal structure

Social pressures

Lack of training

Lactation insufficiency.


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Quality Control ofInfantFormula

In the United States, there are governmental

standards, which establish the nutritional

quality of infant formulas and other dairy

substitutes.

The dairy industry sets its own industry-wide

quality control standards. The industry is self-

policing and has its own regulatory

organization, the International DairyFederation, which sets industry standards for

manufacturing and quality control.

Individual companies set their own standards

for quality control.


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Harmful Effects of Synthetic InfantFood

Mothers milk is considered the "ideal food" for babies, and the"ideal addition" to other foods.

Examples of disasters due to harmful baby food products:

-Melamine contamination2008 Chinese milk scandal

-In 1985, Syntex was ordered to pay $27 million for the death oftwo infants who were given the Syntex baby formula, called Neo-mull-soy.


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Other HealthEffects

Poses numerous health risks.

Studies suggest consumption of formula increased

risk for acute otitis media, non-specific

gastroenteritis, severe lower respiratory tract

infections, atopic dermatitis, asthma, obesity, type1 and 2 diabetes, sudden infant death

syndrome (SIDS), eczema, necrotizing

enterocolitis and autism when compared to infants

who are breastfed. Recently it has been discovered that iron

supplementation in baby formula is linked to

lowered I.Q. and other neurodevelopmental

delays.


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Baby Food

Any food, other than mothers milk or infantformula.

WHO recommends that infants should beexclusively breastfed for the first six months of life.

Experts have provided evidence that introducingsolids earlier than six months increases babies'chances of illness like: Iron deficiency


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Packaging

BPA Bisphenol A, organic compound used in the manufacture of Polycarbonate

plastics. Used in baby and water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental

devices etc

CONCERNS :

Causes endocrine disruptors , can upset normal hormonal balance in ourbodies,

Stimulate the growth and development of cancers (breast, uterine and prostate),

Impair fertility and disrupt pregnancy


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Packaging

Toxic Glue Food is at risk of being contaminated by a highly toxic chemical

found in the glue of packaging labels.

CONCERNS :

Toxic compounds on glues can seep through paper and plasticpackaging and contaminate the food inside.

The chemical as a highly toxic chemicals can cause organ

failure and even death in high doses.


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Packaging

PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid is a synthetic,

stable carboxylic acid, used to make

Teflon and also found in grease-resistant

coatings for food packaging.

CONCERNS:

Causes developmental toxicity and

other unwelcomed effects in

laboratory animals.

The chemicals persist in the

environment and can cross the

placenta to contaminate babies

before birth.


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BreedingofAnimals

Natural rights of animals are being forfeited by theartificial breeding practices.

Heavy criticism to food industry for their focus onprofit maximisation.

Treatment towards animals as commodities.

Industry Malpractices: Forced feeding;

Usage hormones;

Restricting animal movement; Forced breeding;

Canned hunting;

Using artificial lights to reduce sleeping time


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Harmful Chemical Food Additives

Chemical food additives are used to preserve the flavour or improve the taste and

appearance of processed junk foods. A list of food additives you may want toavoid:

FD&C Red Dye #3: A cherry red dye derived from coal tar. May interfere with

the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain, even low doses caused

cancerous changes in human cell cultures.

BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole): A preservative used in cereals, potato chipsand chewing gum to stop them from becoming rancid. It accumulates in the

body fat, known to disrupt the body's hormone balance. Has been shown to

cause cancer in mice, rats and hamsters.

SodiumBenzoate,BenzoicAcid: A preservative

added to fruit juice, carbonated drinks, andpickles. Problems occur when sodium

benzoate is used with ascorbic acid

(vitamin C) to reformulate affected

beverages, typically fruit-flavored products.


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Harmful Chemical Food Additives (Contd.)

Acetone peroxide: A bleach and conditioner used in milling flour and maturing dough.It is strongly oxidizing and can damage the skin and eyes.

Diacetyl: A chemical that imparts the buttery flavor in microwave popcorn. Affects the

lungs with a condition called Diacetyl Induced Bronchiolitis Obliterans or "Popcorn

Worker's Lung".

Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80): A stabilizer used in a wide variety of products including icecream, milk products, vitamin tablets, lotions, creams, vaccines and anti-cancer

medications. Leads to nonimmunologic allergic reactions, infertility.

Potassium Bromate: A chemical added to flour to make bread rise better and give it a

uniform consistency. An excess intake of bromide weakens the thyroid and kidneys.

The unbroken potassium bromate remaining in food, known as carcinogen is banned inmost countries except the U.S. and Japan.


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Analysis ofthe Practices

Discountedpricing

Company has the

right to offerdiscount. Customerside utilitarianismsupports theproposition. Butethics of care willoppose theproposition. Golden

rule will support.

Childrens food

Company has theright to market and

customer has theright to use product.But the children hasthe right to have abalanced meal, whichmight be violated.Utilitarianism willsupport theproposition. Goldenrule will oppose.

Commercials

Company has right topromotion and sell.

Customer has theright to knowregarding theproduct, but is notinformed of all thedetails.

Geneticallymodified food

Utilitarianism will

support the theory.But rights ofinformationisviolated.Attempt toplay God by alteringthe food chain.Goldenrulewilloppose. By ethics of

care, we should notdisturb the balance ofnature.


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Analysis ofthe Practices (Contd.)

ArtificialInfant/Baby food

Utilitarianism will

support theproposition. Butethics of care willoppose as thechildren are requiredto be fed with propernutrition. We areunaware of the

implications of theartificial food. Goldenrule will oppose.

Packaging of food

Utilitarianism willsupport the theory.

Ethics of care willoppose as the food isbeing contaminatedwith harmfulchemicals. Rights ofconsumers for alogical decision areviolated throughpersuasion byattractiveness of thepackage. Golden rulewill oppose.

Animal Breeding

Utilitarianism willsupport the theory.

But rights of animalsare being violated.Golden rule willoppose. Ethics of carewill be violated.

Addition ofChemicals

Utilitarianism will

support theproposition. Butethics of carewilloppose as the food isbeing contaminatedwith harmfulchemicals. Goldenrulewill oppose.

Rightto availabilityof harmless food isviolated.


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Recommendations

General Recommendations:

Spread consumer awareness

List ingredients and source for all food products.

Protection of farmers interests. Laws to prevent usage of harmful chemicals. Severe

penalties.

Provide proper breeding environment for animals.

Commercials, esp. of unhealthy food products, shouldnot be targeted at children.

Childrens food should be healthy.

Proper monitoring of food additives.


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Recommendations (contd.)

Regarding Infant formula:

Ethical dilemma: Nutrition and monetary benefits

vs. health risks.

Utilitarian theory supports use of infant formula

Ethics of care theory advocates taking care of

innocent and vulnerable infants.

Stress on use of breast feeding for at least 6months and homemade baby food.


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Recommendations (contd.)

For Consumers:

Watch out for plastic food packaging containingtoxic chemicals like Bisphenol-A etc.

Use safe plastic or glass containers to store food. Use stainless steel or BPA-free plastic bottles to

store water.

Remove plastic containers and wraps before

cooking in microwave. Use stainless steel or cast iron utensils for

cooking. Teflon-coated surfaces release noxiousgases on heating.


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Ethical Matrix

Devised by Prof. Ben Mepham of University ofNottingham.

Versatile tool for analyzing various ethical issues.

Intended to help people make ethical decisions, esp.about new technologies.


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Ethical Matrix (contd.)


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ETHICS IN FOOD INDUSTRY (2)

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Transcript of ETHICS IN FOOD INDUSTRY (2)