An Ethical Dilemma Essay

on that point exists a blind drunk link between the way and curtilage of life in a auberge and eating dresss of the individuals. No matter how respective(a) and sophisticated the cuisine of a true conclusion might be, todays hyper moving tempo necessitates cheaper and turbulenter sustenance. That is where the truehearted fodder sector steps in, economy the day. At first glance, they appear to be life savers with their affordable menus. However, when we take a closer look and observe the semipermanent effects of troubled solid nutriment for thought on individuals, we ar faced with health problems such(prenominal) as obesity and heart diseases.Nevertheless, betting aliment firms also do a precise good job in market their products to carefully targeted audiences, especially children. This motif entrust focus on the caseful of McDonalds and argue how ethical it is for them to communicate for children directly, examining the issue from the perspective of sociable responsibility. The disperse of McDonalds in other dowry of the world creates mixed obtainings in a couple of(prenominal) countries, and people correct claim that the McDonalds and the distorted image of Ameri ejectization is harmful for their culture and societies. This opinion is especially valid in Europe, but surprisingly McDonalds is take in in Asia.What is a common reply in all countries hosting McDonalds, including its homeland America, is the spatial relation taken towards the effects of McDonalds on eating habits and the following negative consequences. There are plenty of fast food advertisements in North America and this patience has especially travel a part of the life of families with children. Starting from very small-minded ages, children are used to eating this good-tasting, well-marketed and frolic menus which usually come along with a toy for free and their tastes and eating habits are influenced.Even though fast food companies comport started to off er light menus and food with less fat and calories, they do non offer the best menus for children. They continue the habit of eating fast food as they go into adolescence and adulthood, and become a nonher vista for an round person with various diseases resulting from macrocosm overweight. heavy(a) children do tend to become obese adults, putting themselves at a much greater risk, and at a much earlier age, for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Dalton, 2004, p. 2). unmatched out of three children in the unify States is either overweight or at serious risk of becoming so. The total of overweight children ages six to nineteen has tripled deep down three decades the rate of overweight preschool children is roughly as great. The accelerating rate indicates that the current times of children impart grow into the most obese generation of adults in history. (Dalton, 2004, p. 2) Although parents are conscious that food sold at McDonalds is non very sanitary, they are misled by the fact that it is affordable and makes their children happy.What is much, both(prenominal) parents do not have very healthy eating habits either so maven should not be surprised in seeing their children liking McDonalds menus. Moreover, it is not easy to resist the tempting advertisements. whatsoever might say that no oneness is forcing parents to buy these products or foods for their children. But, these ads position the products as must haves. Even if their parents do not buy them the products, children are influenced (How to Prevent childishness Obesity. com, 2009).Experts name beam Kroc, founder of McDonalds franchise and Walt Disney as the pioneers of child-focused marketing, since they first recognised children as a separate marketing demographic from adults in the 1960s (Veracity, D. , 2008). Today, we butt jointnot swear out but wonder how the managers of McDonalds feel more or less the harsh criticisms that the company gets for ad vertize and promoting unhealthful food for children. From a transaction point of view, the company has done a great job since it was founded by Ray Kroc in 1955, generated enormous profits and even became a better known notice than Coca-Cola (Veracity, D., 2008). Competition in the fast food sector is harsh, so McDonalds heavy invests in proud quality advertisements aimed at targeting the right audience, using celebrities and partnerships with other brands, or car toon characters in their campaigns if possible. They build playgrounds in their stores, which serve as a socialization place for children to meet other kids and have fun. McDonalds not only influences Ameri posterior children and families, but also exports its food, image and advertisements to the pillow of the world.They have opened branches in about all parts of the world, and keep expanding in spite of the economic recession. They are optimistic about business prospects in chinaware and visualise to open abou t 500 stores in the country in three old age (Yan, F. & Li, H. , 2009). This gives an important hint about the tastes and habits of the emergence generation of children and it is not difficult to fancy that the global influence of McDonalds will intensify in the coming years, condescension all criticisms that it is unethical to promote unhealthy food to children. How ethical is the advertising outline of McDonalds really?Are the managers of McDonalds actually guilty, or is everyone being too harsh and oversensitive? Even though it is normal for a company to make believe its own rights and benefits before everything, if it is as authoritative and global as McDonalds, it also has some moral and ethical responsibilities and should consider the social consequences of its actions as well as make profits and opening new stores. maven of the most important causes of childhood obesity is lack of exercise, so it might not be totally fair to censure McDonalds and other fast food cha ins for obese children.On the one hand, the McDonalds culture heavily contributes in a bad way to development irregular eating habits. But on the other hand, they cannot be the only ones to blame, as children and their parents are increasingly becoming calculating machine and TV addicts, engaging in very little physical activity. When coupled with fast food consumption, health problems become inescapable. What is the answer to this moral problem then? It is provable that a company this successful will not quit this business or abandon its strategy.However, McDon can at least modify its advertising approach slimly and recommend doing exercises as the underlying core after having a good McDonalds repast. They can include famous sportsmen in their advertisements and encourage children to engage in sports. They can give out toys touchd with sports brands, even cook sports competitions for children with awards, sponsored by major brands like Nike or Adidas. These are just a few s uggestions, and there is no doubt that professionals conception McDonalds marketing strategy can work wonders with this idea if they want to.This way, children can learn to associate the consumption of fast food with exercise in their minds and be convinced that they must be physically active in order to thin those calories taken at McDonald and be healthy. In conclusion, if McDonalds and other fast food chains would alter their advertisement campaigns so as to include the theme of more exercise and sports, they would have been more socially responsible. This way, even though they do not sell the most healthy meals, their customers, especially children would know that they have to pay a price for eating a high calorie and high fat meal by doing more exercise.They would also associate fast food meals with the energy and dynamism of sports, which also makes individuals happy. Therefore, this can be a very good formula for McDonalds to keep its happy customers all over the world and appease an angry clump of protesters who argue that McDonalds advertisements are unethical.ReferencesDalton, S. (2004). Our Overweight Children What Parents, Schools, and Communities Can Do to Control the adipose tissue Epidemic. Berkeley, CA University of California Press. Should there be Ethical Issues with Fast viands Companies advertising to Children?How to Prevent Childhood Obesity. com. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from http//www. howtopreventchildhoodobesity. com/ethicalissues- fastfoodadvertisements. hypertext mark-up language Veracity, D. (2008, July 13).Americas Fast Food Giants Perfect the Art of Selling debris Food to Children. Organic Consumers Association. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from http//www. organicconsumers. org/ words/article_1092. cfm Yan, F. & Li, H. (2009, February 18). McDonalds eye 500 stores in China in 3 years. Reuters. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from http//www. reuters. com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE51H13F20090218