The U.S. Industrial Food System Case Study
The United States food system is ethically flawed on all levels of the supply chain, as Weiss (2014) details in the case study. There are many issues associated with the production, processing, and selling of food in America. Some of the examples mentioned include the poor treatment of animals, the poor treatment of farmers and workers, the use of chemical components that are harmful to the health of people, and environmental degradation, among others. Over the years, a considerable amount of efforts have been made to help enhance the ethical environment of the industrial food system in America.
Positive Steps being taken to rectify the Problems in the Industrial Food System
One of the changes that have occurred over time is the development of policies to control animal treatment in the food industry. The United States Department of Agriculture manages the federal, state, and local laws on animal welfare; therefore, any person who witnesses the mistreatment of animals can make reports to have legal action taken against animal cruelty. Some of the laws governing animal treatment include the Animal Welfare Act and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (United States Department of Agriculture, nd). Even though these laws have not completely eradicated the mistreatment of animals, they are a positive step toward improving how food corporations treat animals.
Farmers and farm workers have also been accorded new protection opportunities to be safe from the exploitation of the large capitalist corporations in the food industry. The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act is an example of a law that was enacted by Congress to protect the rights of farmers and farm workers. The policy has guidelines relating to wages, transportation, housing, disclosures, and record keeping. It offers the farmworkers a legal backing to demand what they deserve from the large corporations.
The rapid growth of the organic food industry is also a positive step towards the inclusion of better foods in the American food market. The market is currently saturated with foods that are associated with various health issues such as diabetes, heart problems, and obesity. However, companies that solely sell organic foods are quickly saturating the market and managing campaigns that encourage people to eat more healthy foods. In addition to the organic food companies, conventional grocery stores such as Walmart and Target are now stocking more organic foods because of the increasing demand. This shows that Americans are making a positive step towards changing their diets.
There is also a fertilizer control law that controls the kinds of chemicals that farmers are allowed to add to the soils to enhance the growth of their produce. Fertilizers are part of the substances controlled by the Toxic Substances Control Act. Farmers are required to register the types of fertilizers they use to avoid using chemicals that have been banned by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For example, phosphorus-based fertilizers have been banned by the EPA; hence, farmers cannot legally use the United States Department of Agriculture, nd). This is a positive change towards environmental protection in the food industry.
Conclusion
This analysis shows that steps are being taken to improve the ethical nature of the American food industry. There is still a lot that needs to be done but the good thing is that the relevant authorities have taken note of the problems with the industry and are taking action to improve the situation. The complete change of the ethical culture of the food industry is likely to take a lot longer if it is at all completely possible.
References
Environmental Protection Agency (nd). Agriculture: Laws and Regulations that Apply to Your Agricultural Operation by Farm Activity Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/agriculture/agriculture-laws-and-regulations-apply-your-agricultural-operation-farm-activity
United States Department of Agriculture (nd). Laws and Guidelines. Animal Welfare and Information Center. Retrieved from: https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/laws-and-guidelines-0
Weiss, J. W. (2014). Business ethics: A stakeholder and issues management approach. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
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Question 
The U.S. Industrial Food System Case Study
Read The US Industrial Food System Case Study beginning on page 584 of the course text. This case study details that unethical activity takes place at all steps of the industrial food supply chain: the animals, the growers of our food, the workers in their factories, the influence extended on our legal system, the planet Earth, the health care system, and ultimately the consumer. After reading the case study, please respond to the following question for this discussion: Are there any positive steps being taken to rectify the problems this case presents? If yes, please identify those and explain them, and if you see no positive steps, explain why.