All posts by Megan Low

Large Corporations Caught in Unethical Food Practices

Shanghai Husi Food Co. engaging in unsafe food practices (shown here from a viewing on Dragon TV in China).

In July 2014, Shanghai Husi Food Company in China was discovered repackaging expired meats, changing the expiration dates, and then shipping bulk orders off to numerous fast food corporations including, McDonald’s, KFC, and Pizza Hut.  Furthermore, these unethical business practices include using food that has fallen on the floor and selling meat over a year past its expiration date.

After reading more into this issue in CBC’s article, I question all sides of this business exchange.  Although we’re all quick to shift the blame onto the supplier, who’s really at fault?  Shanghai Husi Food Company, without question, must be held accountable for its unethical practices, but what about OSI Group of Aurora, Illinois, the company that owns Husi?  This scandal causes me to believe OSI Group of Aurora, Illinois allows, seemingly condones, and possibly even encourages Husi’s actions through its potentially profit driven practices.  Shanghai Husi Food Company and OSI Group would benefit most working together to create a strategy that would maximize profit while still complying with the basic rules and ethics of society .  Likewise, companies that seek products from suppliers must ensure the quality and safety of the goods they purchase through careful inspection and research.  In doing so, consumers receive quality products at the acceptable level they are advertised for.