How important are morals and ethics when deciding profitability in a food processing or manufacturing company?

in my point of view we exist because of the consumer ; and we should not do anything that affects adversely to their health though our profit may be compromised. if we built a trust once then it last for ever so ethics and moral are important for me.

we should not hide any informations from consumers too as they have all the right to know what they are paying for. in this regards i have seen the pharma and food sector add in usa and uk are quiet straight forward while they are not in developing countries.

the people in developing countries also dont care much about these thing as they have lesser knowledge and inadequate technology to assist them with. so its our duty to make them aware by not compromising ethics, quality, moral especilly in consumable items.

Moral and ethics are important in all filed but in food industry it's important from tow sides

first you should think of ethics while selling a helthy and secure product to customers here you must also think of rules and the most important is the customer confidence on your products also you must consider ethics while treating  the raw material here i'm talking about animal products you can see in many factory how they treat immoraly the animals it's so rude so it's really important to woke with ethics you will feel satisfied with your self

i support the previous answer.

But what i would suggest is a mass balance between quality and profit shall come in simultaneously. it is easy to say but difficult to practice. the quality is intended to produce good food and handling practices within the manufacturing process and profit shall follow with team filled with expertise. no theme will be completely safe at any point. only thing we can do is to adapt preventive measures cost effectively.

morals and ethics are nothing but choosing wisely and profitability shall follow!!

an initial investment for food safety will always save you from your future expenditure.

hope it helps..

Frankly speaking in food industry (producing / processing/ serving) moral & ethics,  are of  absolute importance.

let me clarify if you are producing Halal / kosher food & you are not following required procedure and elimination of  ingredient  or  you are recycling nonconforming product without client confirmation in same lot or improper cleaning and overlapping of allergen food and non-allergenic food & so on.

You may get initial good profit, but this will convey a message to your shop floor/ on line employee that anything can be done here for profit. such message goes indirectly & subconsciously which in future may result into major setback & bad reputation for industry.

If we are doing this thing you should get alert by first microbial detection/ allergen detection / higher level of prohibited chemical. 

  Lastly  It depends on senior management point of view towards food industry , whether they are running to provide good food or good profit. In such condition its QA & production department's responsibility to communicate/ educate  them. because this ball will gonna finally come to your court.