Ethics of Popcorn Production Essay Example

year, the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued a statement that workers at plants that produce food flavorings as well as microwave popcorn are facing the danger of contracting a condition that is difficult to treat. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which had already declared that the vapor of diacetyl has the potential to cause bronchiolitis obliterans in addition to severe lung damage, has now recommended that microwave popcorn manufacturers should substitute the chemical diacetyl with less dangerous chemicals.

Moreover, it is recommended for workers at microwave popcorn plants to wear protective gear as well as masks. Even so, the FDA believes that diacetyl is "generally recognized as safe (Zhang). ” Opinion on the Ethics of Popcorn Production I applaud ConAgra Foods Inc. for planning to eliminate the use of chemical diacetyl in the production of its microwave popcorn, even before the FDA is convinced that the chemical is indeed harmful to the workers at popcorn plants in addition to consumers.

ConAgra Foods Inc. as taken an ethical stance for which it is sure to be rewarded with an increased number of consumers in the near future. It was equally important for the company to take into consideration the health and safety conditions for its workers at popcorn plants. By planning to stop using the chemical diacetyl altogether, the company has done well to maintain the trust of  its employees. As a matter of fact, I would expect the company to experience a reduction in turnover as well as absenteeism as a result of its new decision.

Although the FDA’s research on the effects of diacetyl vapors is still in progress,

it is essential for all microwave popcorn manufacturers to heed the warnings of the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. In point of fact, all microwave popcorn manufacturers should make the kind of decision that ConAgra Foods Inc. has already made. This is to ensure that the workers at the microwave popcorn plants would be safe from the dangers of lung diseases that are difficult to treat.

Besides, the elimination of chemical diacetyl from the production of microwave popcorn would allow popcorn manufacturers to retain their customers. Seeing that the media has learned about the possible dangers of diacetyl vapors for the consumers of butter flavored microwave popcorn, and conveyed this information to the consumers too, it is very likely that the latter would decrease their purchases of microwave popcorn. The manufacturers of microwave popcorn that do not make the ethical decision that ConAgra Foods Inc. has made are likely to face a loss in that event.

It is further possible that the manufacturers that do not plan to eliminate the use of diacetyl in the production of popcorn would face increased absenteeism as well as turnover because of the media reports about the dangers of diacetyl vapor. So as to completely stop the use of chemical diacetyl in the production of microwave popcorn, I believe that the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should work with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to establish a regulation. The dangers of diacetyl vapor appear real.

Hence, the use of chemical diacetyl at microwave popcorn plants should be strictly prohibited. Even if the

FDA cannot confirm that diacetyl vapors are dangers for microwave popcorn plant workers as well as consumers, the new regulation can be backed by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in addition to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health so as to ensure that the consumers of microwave popcorn, as well as the microwave popcorn plant workers do not suffer from lung damage. I trust the fact that such a regulation would be an ethical one. Furthermore, it is necessary to establish this regulation.