Module 05 Ethics Project - Presentation

CURRENT NON-ETHICAL ISSUES IN FOOD INDUSTRY 5

Creative Issues

Name: Rodney Wheeler

Institution: Rasmussen College

Course: B406/BUL4060 Section 02 Business Law and Ethical Behavior

Date: 04/21/17

The recent coverage survey on some of the major ethical concerns facing food and beverage industries has revealed that; there are new critical ethical issues that food and beverage firms have to effectively address or risk closure. This way, they would be in a position to improve and maintain customer loyalty, increase sales volume and their profit margins (Sebastiani, Montagnini, & Dalli, 2013). Apart from the few trending ethical issues such as reluctance to compliance with food and health regulations, there are still many ethical issues which do not trend. Therefore, the following article highlights three creative and major current non-trending ethical issues that could affect Saunders and associates limited which operates in the food industry.

The Anti-sugar concerns

After conducting a detailed marketing research and analysis, it was evident that there are certain special class of consumers still suffers in the hands of existing food and beverage industries. They are consumers who have been advised by doctors to avoid taking high sugar content foods. Therefore, the first non-trending ethical issue here regards the fact that many food providers offer fast foods with high sugar contents without considering the special groups of clients. Our company would take into account specific needs of all customers before packaging their foods. Saunders and associates limited maintains that meeting customers constitutes its most preferred goals. As a result, by not resolving the anti-sugar concerns, chances that the company would lose many target consumers is high.

Exorbitant food prices

Secondly, there many food and beverage firms whose main aim is to make high profits at the expense of exploiting consumers. Focusing on profit maximization as resulted in these firms charging exorbitant prices for their fast food products. According to (Bartels & Onwezen, 2014), exorbitant prices mean higher prices than stipulated normal prices. Food industries often take advantage of consumers’ ignorance about correct charges and it is an ethical issue to overcharge. If Saunders and associates limited does not remedy this ethical concern, it will lose most clients who might be able to afford high prices charged. It would go against our preferred objective of expanding the market share to increase sales volume attainable.

Health and hygiene

Lastly, during the market survey, many customers revealed that they do not prefer buying fast foods because most operating food industries are not keen in observing health and hygiene in their activities. It is a critical ethical issue that has not been observed over the time. For example, unhealthy practices such as preparing foods that contain high fat content are rampant among food industries. Additionally, there is laxity to adhere to government prescribed hygienic standards that are meant to reduce likely risks such as outbreak of diseases such as cholera (Crane & Matten, 2016). By not observing health and hygienic standards endorsed by the food regulatory authority, the company risks its license being revoked. The company would have to ensure that it acquires all safety and protective equipment that employees should use.

In conclusion, it is important to point out that Saunders and associates limited focuses on two main essential objectives. They include commanding a large market size to gain competitive advantage among its rivals and providing high quality, affordable and healthy fast foods to its clients. These objectives would be unattainable if the company joins the league and style of operation embraced by current food and beverage firms. Therefore, Saunders and associates limited intends to execute all ethical issues effectively to attract many potential clients, increase customer loyalty and avoid being at loggerheads with authorities.

References

Bartels, J., & Onwezen, M. C. (2014). Consumers' willingness to buy products with environmental and ethical claims: the roles of social representations and social identity. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 38(1), 82-89.

Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.

Sebastiani, R., Montagnini, F., & Dalli, D. (2013). Ethical consumption and new business models in the food industry. Evidence from the Eataly case. Journal of business ethics, 114(3), 473-488.