1. ETHICAL CONCERNS IN FOOD INDUSTRY
Name: Rodney Wheeler
Course: B406/BUL4060 Section 02 Business Law and Ethical Behavior
Institution: Rasmussen College
Date: 05/05/17

2. Introduction
Ethics entails a company’s social, political and community perspectives and how they are applied in the company and the people in totality. In most cities, fast food restaurants are not only a booming business venture but also readily available to most people. Factors such as improved technology and the ever-growing population have prompted the food industry to increase its revenue. However, the food industry has been facing some challenges regarding ethical behavior
Introduction to ethical concerns in the food industry

3. Ethical Behaviors in Food Industry
Food industries use inputs whose self-life is short.
Workers are paid minimal wage.
World Health Organization and Health related organizations are against fast food products.
Environment is also affected since the industries use disposable plates and bags to package their products.
These are the common ethical behaviors that are experienced in mots of the food industries including Saunders and associates company

4. Reasons for Addressing Critical Ethical Issues.
To Improve and Maintain Customer Loyalty
To Increase sales volume
To Increase profit margins
The need to urgently address the emerging ethical issues in the industry.

5. Trending Ethical Issues
Reluctance to compliance with food and health regulations
Minorities taking jobs in food processing and food service
Food distribution and hunger
Food safety and labeling
Some of the trending ethical issues in the food industry

6. Food Consumer Trends
Table 1: Sales of Organic foods in Japan (Retain in US$ millions)
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Organic foods
807.0
828.6
873.3
889.5
895.0
900.6
Packaged foods
611.4
616.3
645.1
659.8
669.5
680.5
Beverages
195.6
212.3
228.1
229.7
225.6
220.1
Statistic trends of how consumers prefer organic foods in Japan. There has been an increasing trends in terms of purchases by the consumers. Most of them prefer organic foods which shows they believe the stick to the ethical issues and behaviors as compared to those industries which deal with non-organic foods
Source: Euro monitor, International, 2012

7. Consequences of Ethical Issues in Food Industry
Chronic health risks
Farming crisis
Food safety concerns
Overuse of resources including water and land
Some of the consequences that result with failure to address emerging ethical issues in the food industry. It is a chain-like figure which ultimately affects the farming activities in which they supply food products to these industries for processing.

8. Food Industry and Public Health
As part of ethical concerns, public health sectors have advocated for food industries to accomplish profitability while ensuring that customers are restrained towards healthy foods. The use of growth hormones in foods is termed to be the leading cause of antibiotic resistance in humans. Consequently, the public health sector is skeptical that food industries are obsessed with profits rather than promoting health foods to its customers. Food firms are ethically obliged to create awareness on healthy food including protecting children from unhealthy foods (Hammaker, Knadig, & Tomlinson, 2007).
This slide seek to explain the link between the food industry and public health with regard to ethical issues and behaviors

9. Non-Trending Ethical Issues
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. 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.
Anti-sugar concerns is one of the non-trending ethical issues in the food industry. It seeks to explain how health professionals have affected the sales of the food industries.

10. EXORBITANT FOOD PRICES
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.
What exorbitant food prices mean to consumers with regard to ethical value of food industries

11. HEALTH AND HYGIENE
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. 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.
An explanation of health and hygiene concern which is a non-trending ethical issue facing Saunders and associates limited company

12. Objectives of Saunders and Associates Limited
To command a large market size to gain competitive advantage among its rivals.
To Provide high quality, affordable and healthy fast foods to its clients
To execute all ethical issues effectively to attract many potential clients, increase customer loyalty and avoid being at loggerheads with authorities.
List of objectives that the company seek to achieve in order to ensure ethical values are observed in the industry

13. Chronic Diseases Caused by Food-borne Contaminations
Kidney failure in young children and infants
Reactive arthritis and serious infections
Meningitis and still births
Guillain-Barre syndrome (Inflammatory disorder leading to paralysis)
These are some of the diseases which are associated with the bridge of the health and hygiene concern.

14. Ethical Dilemmas of Food Safety
Customer’s taste and preferences
Traditional food cultures
Food industries economic interest
Responsibility for food-related Illnesses
Strategies to provide adequate information to consumers
Legislation
Training and management of employees
These are some of the ethical dilemmas faced by industries while trying to balance between profitability and promoting healthy foods to consumers. Decisions made should include the management of the food industry as well as the stakeholders.

15. References
Oni, O., & Matiza, T. (2014). Factors Influencing Consumer Choice of Fast Food Outlet: The Case of an American Fast Food Franchise Brand Operating in a Predominantly Rural Community. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences.
Schneider, J. (2010). Concerns over food industry anti-obesity campaign links. Nursing Standard, 24(50),
Ukandu, N., & Ukpere, W. (2014). Factors Impacting Job Satisfaction of Employees in the Fast Food Industry in Cape Town. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences.

16. Bartels, J. , & Onwezen, M. C. (2014)
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),
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),
Hammaker, D. K., Knadig, T. M., & Tomlinson, S. J. (2017). Health care ethics and the law.
In Motarjemi, Y., In Moy, G., & In Todd, E. C. D. (2014). Encyclopedia of food safety.