Com 295 - Ethics & Credibility in Business Communications

Ethics & Credibility in Business Communications

Bruce A. Bauer

COM/295

September 21, 2015

George Beaini

Ethics & Credibility in Business Communications

In this case, a study was conducted to evaluate the use of antibiotics in the meat and poultry supply chains of large fast food companies. In a report established by the Friends of the Earth and the Natural Resource Defense Council, it was found antibiotic use within certain livestock producers is growing out of control. Antibiotic use in livestock creates a public health concern because animals living in their soil evolve antibiotic resistant bacteria and may lead to a incurable foodborne illness outbreak.  According to CNN, 25 of the top fast food chains have no policy regulating antibiotic use in its products (Tinker, 2015)

Nevertheless, the companies involved in the study have an ethical obligation to serve true quality products and report communications in a transparent manner to the public. A company cannot represent itself as providing quality meats when livestock conditions are very poor. The public have a right to know what additives are used in the foods they eat. Fast food companies have the responsibility of serving foods that don’t create health hazards.

At this point, none of the 25 companies examined provided a public response to the findings. The companies are not currently in breach of FDA regulations as antibiotics are approved for use in livestock (Tinker, 2015). Fast food giants will not address a problem that does not exist in the eyes of regulating authorities. YUM Brands, an international proprietor of fast foods claims on their website that all the products used by KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut are of the best quality ("Serving the World", 2015). Many other companies also claim their foods are of the best quality and circumvent addressing the using of antibiotic raised meats.