[Assignment 3] Chapter 4(1)
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University of Mississippi *
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Course
363
Subject
Health Science
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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5
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NHM 363 Chapter 4
Lily Runnels
In this chapter, we are looking at the various “forces” that impact the world of
purchasing including the distribution channels we covered in chapter 3.
You will need to read the sections in chapter 4 pertaining to the following forces:
1.
Economic
2.
Political and Ethical
3.
Legal
4.
Technological Force
Written Assignment:
In a Word document, please complete the following assignments and place
it in the dropbox by the end of the week.
1.
“Economic Force”:
Read the supplemental story “Economic Force – Global Food Supply and
Prices.” (pages 55 to 57 in your textbook)
Briefly summarize the recent concerns of: beef, limes, and shrimp. Why are they
of concern? What do you think will be a future concern in the industry based on
week 2’s lessons (i.e. COVID-19)?
Recent concerns in the food industry have been centered around beef, limes,
and shrimp due to various factors impacting their supply and prices. Drought
conditions in the United States have led to reduced cattle herds, causing beef
prices to surge. Lime prices have also skyrocketed due to diseases affecting
crops in Mexico, leading to severe shortages and significant price increases.
Additionally, the shrimp supply has been affected by a bacterial infection,
resulting in a sharp decline in supply and subsequent price hikes. These issues
have raised alarms among restaurant owners and companies, prompting them to
consider adjustments to cope with higher costs. Looking ahead, future concerns
may include supply chain disruptions and shifts in consumer preferences,
especially in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Adaptation
and resilience will be crucial for businesses to navigate these challenges and
maintain stability in the food supply chain.
2.
After reading the
“Political Force”,
I want you to go to the following
webpage:
https://www.fda.gov/media/116000/download
After reading through the site on Menu
Labeling,
answer these questions:
What impact does the menu labeling regulation have on restaurants? What type
of restaurants will be affected? Do you agree or disagree with this law? Why do
you feel the way you do?
The menu labeling regulation, enforced by the FDA, necessitates that
certain establishments, particularly those within chains with 20 or more fixed
locations, disclose calorie and nutritional information for standard menu items.
This mandate extends to a wide range of food service businesses, including
quick-service and sit-down restaurants, grocery stores, entertainment venues,
and cafeterias. By requiring transparency in nutrition information, the regulation
aims to empower consumers to make informed dietary choices when dining out,
contributing to public health efforts against obesity and chronic diseases.
However, the regulation imposes significant operational and financial burdens on
affected establishments, including costs associated with data collection, analysis,
menu redesign, and staff training. Compliance may be particularly challenging for
smaller businesses with limited resources, necessitating support mechanisms to
facilitate adherence to the regulation without undue hardship.
While I support the overarching goal of providing consumers with transparent
nutrition information, I also recognize the challenges that the menu labeling
regulation poses for restaurants, especially smaller establishments. The
regulation's focus on standardized disclosure may inadvertently place a heavier
burden on businesses with fewer resources to dedicate to compliance efforts. As
such, there is a need for flexibility and support from regulatory agencies to assist
businesses in meeting the requirements without compromising their viability.
Overall, while menu labeling regulations represent a step forward in promoting
healthier dietary choices, policymakers must strike a balance between consumer
empowerment and the practical realities faced by food service establishments,
particularly smaller businesses.
2b. After reading the
“Ethical Force”:
Answer this scenario:
A supplier sends a free case of your favorite wine to your house and thanks you
for doing business with them for the past year. What would you do with the wine?
1.
Accept it
2.
Return it
3.
Accept it but offer to pay “cost” for it
4.
Accept it but put it into your company inventory
What would you do? Why?
In this scenario, the most ethically responsible course of action would be to
return the free case of wine to the supplier. Accepting the gift, even with the
intention of paying for it or incorporating it into company inventory, risks
compromising the integrity of the business relationship and raises concerns
about potential conflicts of interest. By declining the gift and returning it to the
supplier, ethical standards of transparency, fairness, and impartiality are upheld,
ensuring that business decisions are made based solely on merit and without the
influence of external favors or inducements. This approach preserves the
credibility of the business relationship and maintains trust and integrity in
professional dealings.
Now what about in this situation?
Assume that you are a dietician at a medium size regional hospital. A
pharmaceutical sales representative has contacted you to discuss a new enteral
nutrition supplement. He sets up a lunch meeting with you. He comes by your
office with a catering platter from Newk’s. As you sit and meet with him, he offers
you a weekend hotel/spa package to the Peabody, Memphis if you agree to start
“lobbying” for this new product for use in the hospital and to persuade the
hospital purchasing manager to buy it. However you feel this is unethical to do
and decline. The sales representative thanks you for your time and leaves. A
week later, you receive a $100 Newk’s gift card from the sales rep with a follow
up thank you card.
Is it ethical to accept it? Why? Why not? What are your options?
It is not ethical to accept the $100 Newk’s gift card from the pharmaceutical
sales representative in this situation. The offer of a weekend hotel/spa package
and the subsequent gift card can be seen as attempts to influence the dietician's
professional judgment and decision-making process, creating a conflict of
interest. Accepting such gifts could compromise the integrity of the dietician's role
and potentially undermine patient care by prioritizing the interests of the
pharmaceutical company over the best interests of the hospital's patients.
Therefore, the dietician should decline the gift card and any other offers from the
sales representative. Instead, the dietician should report the incident to hospital
administration or the appropriate regulatory body to ensure transparency and
uphold ethical standards. Additionally, the dietician can explore alternative
channels for obtaining unbiased information about the new enteral nutrition
supplement and engage in evidence-based decision-making regarding its use in
the hospital.
3.
“Legal Force”:
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