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Abstract:

Purpose – Public concerns with issues including animal welfare and environmental management and stewardship have required organisations within the food supply chain to formally demonstrate their commitment to ethical issues. This has led to the development of corporate social responsibility strategies and the use of ethical risk assessment models. The purpose of the study is to review both qualitative and quantitative methods of assessment.

Design/methodology/approach – This paper begins with a discussion on ethical issues. This is followed by an evaluation of current mechanisms for determining both scientific- and value-based approaches to ethical food policy.

Findings – Legislation defines governmental policy but it does not define what is “good” or “right” and this is the role of ethics. In order to have ethic reasoning embedded in food policy either at governmental or at organisational level, policy makers must be able to understand and evaluate moral arguments, be fair-minded and make well-reasoned decisions. Consumers need to trust that both policy makers and those manufacturing and supplying food make decisions and provide information which is accessible, accurate and affords reasoned choice when purchasing food products.

Originality/value – This paper provides a review of ethical methodology and mechanisms for assisting in ethical decision making and will be of interest to academics and to industry.

Keywords:

Business ethics, Food industry, Modelling, Social responsibility, Supply chain management

Article Type:

Research paper

Article URL:

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00070700610661330

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