From Producer to Consumer
The Responsibility of the Market in Free Trade
Elissa Hoston Strayer University

Free trade has enable consumers and businesses to adjust to each other’s needs. Capitalism has expanded the market to sell its products and pool cheap labour. However, the demand of each component of the market has caused unethical activities that negatively impact the consumer and the producer. On the producer side, unethical activities arise from the pressure to meet performance objectives. Due to this, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was established to protect the consumers from the exploitation of capitalists (Smith, 2011). No matter what laws are established, the consumers are the ones who should take action as they are the ones who can protect themselves from the capitalists’ exploitation. It is the consumers’ responsibility to be informed and educated of the products that they are consuming.
Companies produce products depending on the needs of their consumers. These products, before being released in the market, undergo tests and trials to fit the consumer’s needs. Especially in the food industries, the quality of the product is the number one priority of production companies because they know that if only one customer acquire an illness due to the product, the company will be sued for their products. This will cause their products to be pulled out in the market and will cause them a fortune to face the lawsuit.

Consumers Responsibility The consumers have the responsibility for their health and for the products that they are consuming. Because of the diversity of the products being sold in the market, they have to be more vigilant. Also, a consumer has an option to choose from several different brands for one product. Each brand will showcase the advantages of their products compared to others. However, consumers must be educated on what they are buying and consuming. Food products, such as carbonated beverages have nutritional fact sheets in their cans and bottles that inform their consumers about their products contents.
Corporate Social Responsibility Unethical activities arise from the need of the producer to meet or surpass performance objectives. This leads to production of low quality products that can harm the consumers. In the business sector, several ethical issues must be taken into consideration before putting the product in the market. One ethical principle that can be used is the utilitarian approach. In this approach, the business identify the actions that can be done and identify who will be affected by such actions. From the choices, the actions that will produce the greatest benefit and the least harm will be chosen (Velasquez, Andre, Thomas Shanks, & Meyer, 2014).
Coca-cola is one of the most successful beverage companies who have made impact with their products and its campaigns. Coca-cola is known for its campaigns that fight obesity, a condition which is accused to be increased due to the consumption of their products. Obesity has been one of the biggest problems in the United States. It leads to a majority of illness to Americans causing deaths and healthcare costs. Obesity cases have doubled from 13.3 percent in 1960 to present. From a study conducted by Princeton University, this increase in obesity among Americans is due to the introduction of high fructose corn syrup in 1970s (Page Society, 2014). In January of 2013, the company launched its campaign “Be OK” that sends a message to its consumers that a can of Coca-cola contains 140 “happy calories” which can be easily burned by different activities, such as dancing, laughing, or walking the dog . However, this campaign has received a lot of criticisms because consumers are deceived with the marketing strategy of the company. Companies have the responsibility to ensure that their products passed the standards that will ensure consumer safety and satisfaction. However, it is also the consumer’s responsibility to be informed about the products that they are purchasing. Food products are one of the products that require careful usage and consumption because it will greatly affect consumer’s health. Therefore, as a consumer, one must be educated of the products that they are consuming to avoid capitalists’ exploitation.
References
Page Society, A. W. (2014, January 16). Are All Calories Equal? An Analysis of the Coca-Cola Company's Communication in the Fight Against Obesity. Retrieved November 6, 2014
Smith, R. E. (2011). Defining Corporate Social Responsibility: A Systems Approach For Socially Responsible Capitalism. Master of Philisophy Theses, 1-111. Retrieved November 6, 2014
Velasquez, M., Andre, C., Thomas Shanks, S., & Meyer, M. J. (2014). Thinking Ethically: A Framework for Moral Decision Making. Retrieved from Santa Clara University.