c



 
 
Ethics refers to the values, principles and codes by which people live. Acting ethically means
taking values seriously and asking µwhat should I do, all things considered?¶
Food and ethics are intimately connected. Whether you¶re a food producer, business,
consumer or policy-maker, decisions about food involve consideration of the health and
welfare of our planet, people and animals. The various issues highlight the need for ethical
analysis and proper care in order to analyze and implement healthy practices to upkeep the
moral regards of the animal and plant kingdom as well as protection of the environment and
refrain from disturbing the natural balance by playing GOD.
Food ethics is becoming more complex than it used to be. With the recent crisis in China
over baby formula, the slow food movement, the debates over locally grown food, organic
food, cloned cattle, trans fats, the obesity crisis and more.
Food is not just our sustenance and fuel, it also touches on our identity. How we eat, when we
eat, whom we eat with and what we eat is an intrinsic part of culture and personality.
The ethics of food production means different things from one country to the next. For many
African and Asian countries, for example, food production revolves around such issues as
matching demand with supply, sustainability, world debt, commodity prices. For most, life
means living hand to mouth. For any in the `Western' world the debate is focused on human
animal and environmental airwaves sound with the day's issues--genetically modified crops,
sustainable high-country farming, the economic and social stress on farm businesses and
families. Consumers here have the luxury of being fussy about food--but with this luxury
comes responsibility.




 
^ u
million people do not have enough to eat - more than the populations of USA,
Canada and the European Union;
ÿ

   
^ u percent of the world's hungry live in developing countries;
ÿ

  
^ Asia and the Pacific region is home to over half the world¶s population and nearly two
thirds of the world¶s hungry people; ÿ

  
 ^ Women make up a little over half of the world's population, but they account for over
60 percent of the world¶s hungry. ÿ
   
  
 
 !

!"
^ 6
percent of the world's hungry live in only seven countries: India, China, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethiopia.
ÿ

  
  
^ ore than 70 percent of the world's 146 million underweight children under age five
years live in just 10 countries, with more than
0 per cent located in South Asia
alone;
ÿ
#
 
! $
!
%
&%'! (
^ 10.u million children under five die in developing countries each year. alnutrition
and hunger-related diseases cause 60 percent of the deaths;
ÿ
) 
*
+ !&%'! "
^ The cost of undernutrition to national economic development is estimated at US$ 0-
30 billion per annum;
ÿ
#
 
! $
!
%
&%'! (
^ One out of four children - roughly 146 million - in developing countries are
underweight;
ÿ
) 
*
+ !&%'! "
^ Every year WFP feeds more than 0 million children in school feeding programmes
in some 70 countries. In 00, WFP fed a record 3 million children.
(Source: WFP School Feeding Unit)


Those who have a body mass index(BI) greater than 30 are considered obese
In the world today, close to 600 million adults are obese and
0 million school aged children
are obese
en
India ± 1.3 %, US ± 3 . %, Canada ± .u%, Germany ± 0.
%, China ± .4 %, Australia ±

.6 %, alaysia ± 10.1 %
Women
India ± . %, US ± 3
.
%, Canada ± 3. %, Germany ± 1.1 %, China ± 3.4 %, Australia ±
4 %, alaysia ± 17.4%
Key Priorities regarding the various stake holders are :
 
    
India 1.3 .
USA 3 .3 3
.

Canada .u 3.
Germany 0.
1.1
China .4 3.4
Australia
.6 4
alaysia 10.1 17.4


  
  
! Consider whether your customers would still eat your food if they knew where it came
from.
! Kalue 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 unpackaged, locally bought, and as and when you need it.
! Eat organic, fairly traded fruit and vegetables, and less but better quality meat and dairy
and sustainably caught fish.


  
 
a)     
  : Healthy food items, especially green/natural food are priced
heavily compared to the food items being produced in a normal way. The healthy food
item being priced with a higher margin makes the product unviable for purchase by the
regular public as their income level is limited. The practice discourages the purchase of
healthy food by the masses.
b)

 !  : The various companies offer discounts for purchase of a higher
quantity of the product. Also there are practices of clubbing items and offering them at a
discount. Such practices pursue the customer for purchasing more than what might be
needed. The super size meal by cDonalds is an example of such a practice. Individual
items are priced at a premium over the combination pack.
c)   "  : The food items targeted at children are made attractive such that the
children end up buying the same by the looks. They are unaware of the health risks posed
 by the consumption. As the pursuing power of children is often high, the parents end by
buying the same for their children and falling prey to the unhealthy practices of the
industry. Starting young creates brand loyalty for the organizations which will create a
multiplier effect. The cognitive skills of children develop by the age of  to 10 years only.
The behaviours of children are manipulated before this age by attracting them to the
advertisements. Such behaviours are very hard to shift once developed. Also, the pester
power of the children will force the parents to buy those food items which the child
demands. This will force the parents also to consume unhealthy food as an effect of the
manipulated brand loyalty of children. Profits always become a motive above the need for
healthy diet. It is a usual practice to showcase children utilizing the product as developing
into a healthy individual, whereas the actual effect of the same might be highly adverse to
the health.
d)  # Commercials often highlight the product offered, but do not divulge
details regarding the ingredients. The meal might pack in more calories than required, or
may have harmful contents. Often, we end up buying the same without any evaluation of
the item. any a times, we neglect to read the nutrition information and ingredients in the
package believing them to be in order if the product is from a reputed company and had
strong presence in the market. The commercials often neglect the respect needed to be
shown to the customer to allow him to make a logical and rational decision after
evaluation of the product. The selective description of the items hide negative data.
Deceptive food advertising is often utilized and encouraged by the advertising companies
and the marketing organizations.
e) 
  : We very rarely see advertisements which showcase the need to eat
green vegetables. Almost all advertisements showcase the easiness in eating a quick ready
made meal. The masses are often unaware of the need to take a proper nutritional diet.
 
   
a)  
     : Genetically modified food is the buzz word of the new
century. The idea of being able to develop the food in the way we require it seems highly
attractive, but the ethical questions regarding the process are often subdued. The
insertion of genetic material from one organism into another organism and its expression
in the host to confer new characteristics in the organism is being utilized widely, but is
under the scanner for various issues.
 i. Often, the food items being produced look alike whether it is grown naturally or
produced in a genetically modified way. Labelling the same as G is rarely
mandatory.
ii. Transfer of genes to food animals
iii. the transfer of human genes from animals whose flesh is forbidden for use as food by
certain religious groups (e.g. pigs for uslims and Jews) to
animals they normally eat;
iv. the introduction of animal genes into food crops which may be of particular concern
to vegetarians, especially vegans;
v. the use, as animal feed, of organisms containing human genes (e.g. yeast can be
modified to produce human proteins of pharmaceutical value;
consideration might be given to disposing of the spent yeast as animal feed)
vi. 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.
vii. odification in food chain is often cited as a major ethical issue regarding G.
Whether we can play GOD is a question under scanner. Often, the practices are done
without knowledge of the adverse effects which might be produced in the long term.
viii. Terminator technology: An often cited controversy is a "Technology Protection"
technology dubbed 'Terminator'. This uncommercialized technology would allow the
production of first generation crops that would not generate seeds in the second
generation because the plants yield sterile seeds. This technology is intended both to
limit the spread of genetically engineered plants, and to require farmers to pay yearly
to reactivate the genetically engineered traits of their crops. Such a practice will put
the farmers at a disadvantage.
Eg: onsanto/Syngenta
ix. Narrowing of gene pools: Since the G foods propose mixing of genes, the unique
genes might be lost with time and the available gene pool would narrow down once
the use of G is extensive.
x. Domination of food production by a few countries: As G food items will bring
down production cost, the possibility of farmers of under developed nations/farmers
using traditional methods getting a share of the market goes down drastically. This
will put the life of the farmers under immense pressure.
 xi. Knowing what you eat: G food will mask the contents of the product since the
looks can be made to resemble naturally made food items or even other similar
products.

   

1. 
# is a food manufactured to support adequate growth of infants under six
months of age when fed as a sole source of nutrition. The most commonly used infant
formulas contain purified cow's milk whey and casein as a protein source, a blend
of vegetable oils as a fat source, lactose as a carbohydrate source, a vitamin-mineral mix,
and other ingredients depending on the manufacturer. In addition, there are infant
formulas using soybean as a protein source in place of cow's milk and formulas using
protein reduced (hydrolysed) into its component amino acids for infants who are allergic
to other proteins.
A 001 WHO report found that infant formula prepared in accord with applicable Codex
Alimentarius standards is a nutritionally adequate and safe complementary food and a
suitable breast milk substitute. Nonetheless, with few exceptions, the WHO report
recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life for all babies. Infant
formula is necessarily an imperfect approximation of breast milk because:
U The exact chemical properties of breast milk are not fully understood.
U A mother's breast milk changes in response to the feeding habits of her baby and over
time, thus adjusting to the infant's individual growth and development.
U Breast milk includes the mothers' antibodies that help the babies avoid or fight off
infections and give their immature immune systems the benefit of their mothers' immune
system that has many years of experience with the germs common in their environments.

$Ê  
! 
#
Commercial infant formulas are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Three major types are available: ?
 
  
 



 Infant formulas come in three forms. The best choice
depends on your budget and desire for convenience:  


 
 

 

$Ê
 #

It should be noted that the design of infant formulas is highly complex due to the nature
of the biological requirements of the developing child. Formula is made by blending
 similar materials in an attempt to match the characteristics of true milk. Formula design
typically falls into one of three categories:

! ilk based formulas (containing milk components such as casein or whey protein)
! Animal or vegetable fat based formulas (containing vegetable and/or milk
components)
! Non-milk based (containing no milk components at all)

$Ê % 
 
#

There are few medical reasons to use infant formula; breastfeeding is suitable for most
mothers and babies. Infant formula is the most popular alternatives to breast-feeding.
Other options include bottle-feeding the mother's expressed breast milk, breast milk from
a healthy wet nurse, and bottle-feeding breast milk from another woman, collected
through a human-milk bank. Their reasons for choosing alternatives to exclusive
breastfeeding include: | 
 | 
  
 

 
         
   
   

 
 

  

   
    

d) š

:

Quality of infant formula is ensured at three levels, which have some degree of overlap.
First, in the United States, there are governmental standards, which establish the
nutritional quality of infant formulas and other dairy substitutes. Second, the dairy
industry sets its own industry-wide quality control standards. The industry is self-policing
and has its own regulatory organization, the International Dairy Federation, which sets
industry standards for manufacturing and quality control. Third, individual companies set
their own standards for quality control.

$Ê 


 

The use and marketing of infant formula has come under scrutiny; mother¶s milk is
considered the "ideal food" for babies, and the "ideal addition" to other foods, and
exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months of a baby's life is advocated by health
authorities and accordingly by infant formula manufacturers.
&! 
 
 ! 


a) In 1u
, Syntex was ordered to pay $ 7 million for the death of two infants who
were given the Syntex baby formula, called Neo-mull-soy, when they were
infants. In 1u7, Syntex had eliminated salt from the formula.
b)  
 
  00 Chinese milk scandal

On
November 00, an Associated Press article entitled "FDA finds traces

of melamine in US infant formula" explains infant formula made by the main three firms
has tested positive for melamine contamination. These three main firms are responsible
for u0% of infant formula in the US, "Abbott Laboratories, Nestle and ead Johnson."

The SDS for melamine (CAS NO 10-7-1; C3-H6-N6) records the acute oral toxicity
(LD
0) at 3161 mg/kg (3161 ppm) for a rat. The highest levels previously reported
in China reached approximately
00 ppm. The article mentioned above indicated that
the US testing found 1/10,000th of the China levels, or 0.
ppm. Health
Canada conducted a separate test and also detected traces of melamine in infant formula
available in Canada. The melamine levels were well below Health Canada's safety limits,
although some public health advocates are critical of the industry and regulators for
allowing any residues of a potentially dangerous substance in food for infants. Health
officials have been on alert for the chemical since the discovery this year of a massive
case of melamine poisoning in China, where milk was deliberately adulterated with the
chemical, leading to illnesses in more than
0,000 children, including cases of acute
kidney failure. In China, large quantities of melamine were deliberately added to watered-
down milk to give it the appearance of having adequate protein levels.





Use of infant formula is cited in numerous health risks. Studies have found infants in
developed countries who consume formula are at increased risk for acute otitis media,
non-specific gastroenteritis, severe lower respiratory tract infections,
atopic dermatitis, asthma, obesity, type 1 and diabetes, sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS), eczema, necrotizing enterocolitis and autism when compared to infants
who are breastfed. Although some early studies have found an association between infant
formula and lower cognitive development, other studies have found no correlation.
Recently, though, more questions have arisen. It has been discovered that iron
supplementation in baby formula is linked to lowered I.Q. and other neurodevelopmental
delays.

'()c


Baby food is any food, other than mother¶s milk or infant formula, that is made
specifically for infants, roughly between the ages of four months to two years. Because
infants lack teeth, many different baby foods are designed for ease of eating; they are
either a soft, liquid paste or an easily chewed food.

*

 

Babies typically move to consuming baby food once nursing or formula is not sufficient
for the child's appetite. Babies do not need to have teeth to transition to eating solid foods.
Care should be taken with certain foods that pose a choking hazard, such as undercooked
vegetables, or food that may contain bones. Pureed vegetables and fruits are an example
of liquid style baby food. It is often recommended to give baby solid food at around 6
months of age, but babies differ greatly. The only good way to know when to introduce
baby food is to watch for signs of readiness in the child. Because breast milk takes on the
flavor of foods eaten by the mother, these foods are especially good choices. If there is a
family history of allergies, one may wish to introduce only one new food at a time,
leaving a few days in between to notice any reactions that would indicate a food
allergy or sensitivity. This way if baby is unable to tolerate a certain food then it can be
determined which food is causing the reaction.




As a global public health recommendation, the World Health Organization recommends

that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve
optimal growth, development and health. Six month old infants are physiologically and
developmentally ready for new foods, textures and modes of feeding. Experts advising
the World Health Assembly have provided evidence that introducing solids earlier than
six months increases babies' chances of illness, without improving growth. One of the
health concerns associated with the introduction of solid foods before six months is iron
 deficiency. The early introduction of complementary foods may satisfy the hunger of the
infant, resulting in less frequent breastfeeding and ultimately less milk production in the
mother. Because iron absorption from human milk is depressed when the milk is in
contact with other foods in the proximal small bowel, early use of complementary foods
may increase the risk of iron depletion and anaemia

% *
( *#

Though the infant formula market is increasing day by day due to busy work life of
today¶s working mothers due to women empowerment, growing figure consciousness of
today¶s women and many lactation problems arising due to unhealthy eating habits,
irregular routine of life, polluted environment etc. The nutritious and monetary benefits in
comparison to the health risks arising due to these infant formulas (e.g. Syntex baby
formula, 00 Chinese milk scandal) create an ethical dilemma. The utilitarian theory
supports the use of infant formula while the ethics of care theory tells us to take care of
the innocent and vulnerable infants which are the future of the world. So, instead of
excessively using the infant formula we should stress on the use of breast feeding for at
least six months and homemade baby¶s food.

 + #
,'Ê  (
! (, commonly abbreviated as  (, is an organic compound with
two phenol functional groups. Bisphenol A is used primarily to make plastics, and products
containing bisphenol A-based plastics have been in commerce use since 1u
7. It is a
key monomer in production of epoxy resins and in the most common form
of ! 
!
. Polycarbonate plastic, which is clear and nearly shatter-proof, is
used to make a variety of common products including baby and water bottles, sports
equipment, medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, eyeglass lenses, CDs and
DKDs, and household electronics.
The problem is that when our food is wrapped in packaging and bottles made from these
plastics, the chemicals migrate out of the plastic and into the food and drink we consume.
 ( is extremely dangerous to our health and most dangerous of all for the unborn babies,
infants and children because they are known as endocrine disruptors (which can mimic the
body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects). This means they can upset
normal hormonal balance in our bodies, stimulate the growth and development of cancers
(breast, uterine and prostate), impair fertility and disrupt pregnancy. Green beans, peas, soup,
even food labeled "healthy" or "organic" are all some of the canned foods found to be
contaminated with BPA in a report released by the National Workgroup for Safe arkets, a
coalition of U.S. public health and environmental health groups, on ay 1, 010.


green beans were the most contaminated, one can had a whoppping 1,140 ppb, though there
was a lot of variation found both within brands and between different brands of food. The
bottom line is that consumers can't avoid BPA by relying on a particular brand, type of food,
price, quality, or nutritional value of canned food.
A 010 report from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised concerns
regarding exposure of fetuses, infants and young children. In September 010, Canada
became the first country to declare BPA as a toxic substance. In the European Union and
Canada BPA use is banned in baby bottles. All the countries in the European Union have
banned the use of these endocrine disruptors in plastics that come into contact with food and
drink. The US government is the only federal government in the Western world to insist that
these plastics are safe. some of the world's biggest food companies are moving toward the
elimination of BPA from cans and other food packages, prompted by consumer concerns that
BPA can cause heart disease, cancer and other illnesses. The world's biggest food
manufacturer, Nestle, has announced it will stop putting BPA into U.S. products within three
years. Heinz says it is at "an advanced stage" in removing BPA from U.K. baby food.
General ills already has eliminated BPA from some products, while Campbell has
undertaken significant research.

!
-  
-#
! Watch out for plastic food packaging containing toxic chemicals like bisphenol-A,
phthalates and PKC.
! Use safe plastics (or alternatively glass containers) for storing food just purchased or
leftovers.
! Use stainless steel or a bottle made from BPA-free plastic for a safe water bottle to
be re-used.
! Remove foods from all plastic containers or wraps before cooking, heating or
defrosting in a microwave.
 ! Use stainless steel or cast iron cookware to prepare meals as the Teflon used to
create non-stick surfaces can release noxious gases when exposed to high
temperatures.
! Use non plastic containers to microwave food.
Œ'Ê  c (
 
   ( c (), also known as . and !
 
, is a synthetic,
stable perfluorinated carboxylic acid and fluorosurfactant. One industrial application is as
a surfactant in the emulsion polymerization of fluoropolymers. PFOA has been manufactured
since the 1u40s in industrial quantities. It is also formed by
the degradation of precursors such as some fluorotelomers. This cancer-causing chemical is
used to make Teflon and also found in grease-resistant coatings for food packaging.
In people, it is detected in the blood of general populations in the low and sub-parts per
billion range. Chemical plant employees and surrounding subpopulations have been
identified with higher blood levels. Exposure is most consistently associated with
increased cholesterol and uric acid levels, but there is insufficient evidence to conclude that
PFOA exposure results in adverse health effects in people. In the United States, the EPA has
opened a dialogue of discussion and concern over human exposure to PFOA's. In recent
studies there have been indications that PFOA has caused developmental toxicity and other
unwelcomed effects in laboratory animals. The EPA's first assessments indicate exposure
among the United State's general population to PFOA to be at relatively low levels. However,
this consideration also comes with significant uncertainty within the scientific community
regarding the potential risks of PFOA exposure. Like PFOA-based coatings, the new
compounds are also made from, contaminated with, or break down into perfluorochemicals
(PFCs), including new coatings for household products like stain-resistant fabrics and carpet,
waterproof clothing, and food packaging. Like PFOA, they persist in the environment and
can cross the placenta to contaminate babies before birth.
In the United States, the EPA has issued a preliminary risk assessment of PFOA and
requested scientific data and assessment concerning the risks for this chemical. Additionally,
under the TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act), the EPA has begun to invite interested
parties, including those representing the manufacturers and users of PFOA, to participate in
negotiations toward one or more Enforceable Consent Agreements (ECAs). Further, the EPA
has taken action to better understand the sources and exposures which have led to the
presence of PFOA in humans. In 006, under pressure from the U.S. EPA, DuPont and 7
other companies promised to phase out PFOA by 01
.
X'Ê &
Supermarket food is at risk of being contaminated by a highly toxic chemical found in the
glue of packaging labels. The study, published in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Journal of
aterials Chemistry, showed that toxic compounds on four label glues can seep through
paper and plastic packaging and contaminate the food inside. The chemical, which is in the
same class of toxicity as mercury, asbestos and hydrochloric acid, can seep through and
contaminate food. The team led by Cristina Nerín at the University of Zaragoza studied
compounds in acrylic adhesives, discovering that some chemicals can diffuse through the
packaging and reach the food inside.
It has been found in high levels on some of the sticky labels attached to packages of fresh
meat, vegetables and tubs of sauce. The chemical could pose a 'particularly severe risk to
health' as highly toxic chemicals can cause organ failure and even death in high doses. The
study follows previous research that found chemicals in a wide range of products that may
cause infertility in women, cancer, immune system disorders and even neurological problems.
Strict EU safety regulations mean that certain materials cannot come into direct contact with
food, but there are no rules about the chemicals in label adhesives.
  ( 
The rights of animals to live in accordance with the rules of nature are being forfeited by the
artificial breeding practices. The food industry had been heavily criticised by the various
organizations for their practices maximising the profits. The rights of animals are usually
forgotten in the process. The practices involve:
a. Forced feeding
b. Using hormones
c. Restricting animal movement
d. Forced breeding
e. Canned hunting
f. Using artificial lights to reduce sleeping time of animals
  
 
Chemical food additives are used by food manufacturers to preserve the flavor or improve the
taste and appearance of processed junk foods. They are found in foods which require long
shelf lives, and are used widely in "diet" foods which need the flavor boost. Some additives
come from natural sources, but some are highly process substances derived from unhealthy
sources such as coal tar and peroxide.
Here's a list of seven chemical food additives you may want to avoid:
1. c
/ % 
 0X# A cherry red dye derived from coal tar. This substance may
interfere with the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain and even low doses of Red
#3 caused cancerous changes in human cell cultures. The FDA banned the use of Red
Dye #3 in lake form in cosmetics, but still allows the dye to be used in food products.
. ( 1

   & $# a preservative used in cereals, potato chips and
chewing gum to stop them from becoming rancid. It accumulates in the body fat and it is
known to disrupt the body's hormone balance. This widely used food additive has been
shown to cause cancer in mice, rats and hamsters. The FDA still allows BHA to be used
as a food additive to prevent fat rancidity.
3.   2
3 2( # a preservative added to fruit juice, carbonated drinks,
and pickles. Problems occur when sodium benzoate is used in beverages that also
contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C). A lawsuit filed in 006 by private attorneys ultimately
forced Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and other soft-drink makers in the U.S. to reformulate
affected beverages, typically fruit-flavored products.
4. (
 !& #a bleach and conditioner used in milling flour and maturing dough. It
is basically acetone (nail polish remover) with an oxygen compound added. It is strongly
oxidizing and can damage the skin and eyes.

.

# a chemical that imparts the buttery flavor in microwave popcorn. It has a
disease named after it because many microwave popcorn factory workers exposed to it
have developed a lung condition called Diacetyl Induced Bronchiolitis Obliterans or
"Popcorn Worker's Lung". There is no official ban in the EU, and U.S. companies are
starting to voluntarily replace this ingredient in the microwave popcorn.
6.  
 .4 1 + -  
-  .4$#a stabilizer used in a wide variety of
products including ice cream, milk products, vitamin tablets, lotions and creams and
medical products like vaccines and anti-cancer medications. This food additive has been
linked to nonimmunologic allergic reactions, and one study has linked it to infertility.
This substance is in the new Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine which is being marketed
for girls aged u- 6 in the United States.
7.  
 
#a chemical added to flour to make bread rise better and give it a
uniform consistency. ost of what is added to flour breaks down during the cooking
process into bromide. An excess intake of bromide has been associated with the
 inhibition of iodine enzyme metabolism, which weakens the thyroid and kidneys. The
potassium bromate that isn't broken down remains in the baked good and is a known
carcinogen. This food additive is banned in most countries except the U.S. and Japan.
c ( 
 
There are more than 3000 different food additives that are purposefully added to our food
supply. Some of them are known to cause cancer. Even though the Delaney Clause of the
1u
 Food Additives Amendment states that any additives shown to cause cancer in humans
or animals are not permitted to be added to our food, political pressure has caused the FDA to
relax these standards and allow ³small amounts´ of cancer causing substances to be used in
foods. Not only are known carcinogens allowed in your food, but certain food additives can
cause allergic reactions in some people. Other additives may be harmful to certain groups of
people such as pregnant women, infants, people with high blood pressure and people with
kidney problems. Even if all of the food additives used in our foods were safe individually,
rarely does any food have only one additive in it. Testing for additive safety has been done
for individual additives, not for combinations of additives. Additives that are safe
individually may be harmful in certain combinations. Nobody knows the effects of the many
different additives used in the thousands of different combinations. It¶s enough to make you
afraid to eat packaged foods of any kind.
( &!
5 +!
 c 
³Fresh´ fruits and vegetables grown on the Yamuna riverbed.
The Yamuna riverbed is replete with heavy metals (from industrial effluents let out in the
river). The fruits and vegetables grown here will have a heavy content of these materials too.
But how to stop this? This is a dilemma faced by the government.
Government¶s dilemma stems from the fact that discouraging people from buying or growing
food in the area would first require official acknowledgment of the source of these
contaminants, mainly industrial wastes, and then taking steps to check the nuisance ² both
issues with enough potential to catapult into a major controversy. ³he incident sums up the
irony that at a time when politicians and policymakers are intensely debating the issue of
food security, they consciously turn a blind eye to the perils of unsafe food. ³Though as
important as food security, food safety has remained a fringe issue so far, because as a
country, we are still struggling to honour our citizen¶s basic right to food,´ says K N Gaur,
CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). ³In other words, making sure
that there is enough food for everyone to eat has been so critical for us so far that the quality
of the food has not caught our collective focus yet.´
This is not the case of India only but many of the developing and underdeveloped nations of
the world.

Practice
Discounted Company has the right to offer discount. Customer side ± utilitarianism
pricing supports the proposition. But ethics of care will oppose the proposition.
Golden rule will support.
Children¶s Company has the right to market and customer has the right to use the product.
food But the children deserve the right to have a balanced meal, which might be
violated. Utilitarianism will support the proposition. Golden rule will oppose.
Commercials Company has right to sell. Customer has the right to know regarding the
product, but is not informed of all the details.
Genetically Utilitarianism will support the theory. But rights will oppose the theory as the
modified food customer will not know the food he is consuming. We are playing GOD by
altering the food chain. Golden rule will oppose.
Artificial Utilitarianism will support the proposition. But ethics of care will oppose as
Infant/Baby the children are required to be fed with proper nutrition. We are unaware of
food the implications of the artificial food. Golden rule will oppose.
Packaging of Utilitarianism will support the theory. Ethics of care will oppose as the food is
food being contaminated with harmful chemicals. Rights of consumers for a logical
decision are violated through persuasion by attractiveness of the package.
Golden rule will oppose.
Animal Utilitarianism will support the theory. But rights of animals are being violated.
Breeding Golden rule will oppose.
Addition of Utilitarianism will support the proposition. But ethics of care will oppose as
Chemicals the food is being contaminated with harmful chemicals. Golden rule will
oppose.

% 
 #
U Spreading consumer awareness
U Right for the customer to know what they are eating
U Protection of the farmers
U Laws for prevention of usage of harmful chemicals
U Rights for animals to have a proper breeding environment
U Commercials should not be targeted towards children
U Children¶s food should be healthy
U Parents to be made aware of the consequences of baby/infant foods
U Food additives to be monitored properly

% #
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A#Use
http://www.amoils.com/health-blog/how-to-avoid-toxic-food-and-packaging-in-our-
shopping-cart/Ê
http://food.einnews.com/article/u
31-industry-giants-move-to-curtail-use-of-bpa-in-
packaging-as-scientists-seek-consensus-on-health-impact-of-the-chemical-in-food
http://www.ewg.org/reports/teflongreenwash
http://www.pfoa.com/what-action-is-being-taken-pfoa.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanoic_acid
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/ 010/0
/1/bpa-contamination-food-five-times-higher-
previous-tests
http://www.nextgenerationfood.com/news/toxic-glue-in-food-packaging/