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When it comes to business ethics, Kellogg is GRRRRR-EAT!!!
By Lauren | January 16, 2009
Major kudos go to food manufacturer Kellogg Co. for voluntarily asking stores to stop selling its Keebler and Austin brand peanut butter crackers. Kellogg took this step when one of its suppliers, Peanut Corp. of America, issued a recall of 21 lots of its peanut butter for possible salmonella contamination.
Peanut Corp. had little choice about the recall. Bacteria tests revealed that an open container of peanut butter manufactured by Peanut Corp. was a genetic match to the strain of salmonella that has sickened over 400 people in 43 states and that may have contributed to two deaths. Still, Peanut Corp. did the right thing by recalling the peanut butter, and deserves appropriate praise.
At this point, though, Kellogg has discovered no trace of salmonella in its peanut butter crackers. If Kellogg was looking only at its bottom line, the company could have decided to sit back, say nothing, and continue to collect revenue. Instead, Kellogg willingly put safety first, choosing to withdraw its crackers from the market and forego profits rather than put its customers at risk.
Kellogg’s decision shows real concern for the well-being of its consumers, especially the little ones. Children love peanut butter crackers and are especially vulnerable to food poisoning. An icon in the market of “foods kids love” like cereal, cookies and, of course, crackers, Kellogg clearly recognizes that protecting the health of children is essential to maintaining the trust of parents who actually buy the company’s products.
Kellogg’s actions demonstrate that sound ethics are great business. Consumers who know what the company did will trust Kellogg to look out for their kids’ safety and be more likely to buy Kellogg products. Good going, folks! If Tony the Tiger were here right now, he’d get one huge hug from this grateful Mom.
Topics: Business Ethics, corporate responsibility, customer relations, ethics |
February 1st, 2009 at 10:36 pm
[...] presents When it comes to business ethics, Kellogg is GRRRRR-EAT!!! posted at The Business Ethics Blog, saying, “Kellog Co. voluntarily pulls out its products [...]