Corporate Responsibility vs Profit in the Food Industry

Introduction

The food industry plays a pivotal role in shaping public health. However, its operations are often driven by profit maximisation, which can come into conflict with social responsibility. The dilemma arises when corporations prioritise shareholder value over consumer well-being.

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The Profit Motive

• Aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages to children.

• Product placement in schools, sports events, and online platforms.

• Cheaper production costs for processed foods compared to fresh, healthy options.

• “Profit first” approach often externalises costs onto society through obesity, diabetes, and non-communicable diseases.

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Corporate Responsibility

• Ethical duty to safeguard consumer health under principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

• Responsibility to provide accurate food labelling, avoid misleading claims, and ensure safe ingredients.

• Support for sustainable agriculture, reduced plastic packaging, and healthier alternatives.

• Example: companies reformulating products to reduce sugar/salt, or promoting fortified foods.

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The Ethical Dilemma

• Conflict between short-term profits vs long-term trust and sustainability.

• Utilitarian view: profit cannot override public health if harm is widespread.

• Gandhian trusteeship: corporations as custodians of social good, not just wealth generators.

• UN’s SDG-2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG-3 (Good Health & Well-being) make corporate responsibility a global obligation.

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Way Forward

• Stronger regulation: taxes on junk food, restrictions on advertising to children.

• Industry self-regulation: voluntary codes, corporate accountability frameworks.

• Consumer awareness movements to demand healthier options.

• Profits and responsibility can converge: “shared value” models where healthier products become profitable through innovation and demand.

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Conclusion

The food industry faces a choice: pursue profits at the cost of public health or align profit-making with social responsibility. True corporate success lies not just in market share but in creating a healthier society — proving that ethics and enterprise can, and must, go hand in hand.