Budny 10:00
R13
A CURRENT ETHICAL DILEMMA INVOLVING FOOD PROCESSING
ENGINEERING
Celina Celmo (cmc178@pitt.edu)
INTRODUCTION
A professional by the name of William Marcy once said,
“Being ethical isn’t always about cut and dry answers but
getting yourself to actually consider the possibilities” [1]. I
found this quote to be particularly interesting because it
makes you think about what it means to be ethical. In order
to be an engineer you must think in a way that forces you to
consider every possible outcome of a particular situation.
The reason for this is because the opportunities for errors to
arise are endless in the field of engineering. The innovations/
technologies that are being brought into this world are
rapidly growing. The difficult part of the procedure is
figuring out whether your idea is going to end up being a
success or an absolute failure. As an engineer, there are
many decisions that need to be made that require excessive
deliberation. In this paper, I am going to introduce a specific
scenario that was brought upon me, as an engineer, in which
it is necessary to think ethically in order to come to a
conclusion. In order to do this, I will use a couple different
codes of ethics, along with several case studies to support
my idea. Moreover, it is essential to describe who is going to
be involved with my situation and how will it affect not only
me but also everyone around me.
ETHICAL SCENARIO
I am a chemical engineer working for a high-end food
processing company. It has been a passion of mine since my
freshman year of college to work for a food industry as an
engineer and improve the quality of food. After several years
of working for the company and doing significant amounts
of research, I discovered a new essential oil that can be used
as a natural food preservative. My boss tells me that if a
small amount of a synthetic preservative is used in
conjunction with this new oil, then the products that can be
produced with it will be even better. But he makes it known
that the only way my product will be a definite success in
the industry is if we keep the synthetic additive a secret from
absolutely everyone and anyone. In other words, I have to lie
to the consumers and act as if the product is all natural when
in actuality, there are potentially unhealthy synthetic
additives. Because the food items produced using it would
be labeled on the shelves in stores as “all natural” products,
it would certainly bring in substantial profit for the
company. The preservative would be credited to my name
and would earn me enough money to live the rest of my life
with great leisure.
University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering
2014-10-28
Ethical dilemmas, like the one described above, occur
everyday in the world of engineering. It is highly impossible
for an engineer to be successful without running into
problems along the way. The difficult part is approaching
the situation with maximum professional integrity and
eventually making extremely astute decisions. You must do
this by simply considering, in detail, every possible ‘plus’
and ‘minus’ of the entire process.
NSPE CODE OF ETHICS
For an engineer to think ethically, they must know and
understand the National Society of Professional Engineers
Code of Ethics. This code follows a strict guideline that
engineers must follow in order to approach situations in the
most professional way possible.
A major topic of the code of ethics deals with the general
safety and well being of the public. It specifically states,
“Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and
welfare of the public” [2]. In my situation, the consumers
think they are eating a naturally produced food product when
they actually are not. It is important to understand the side
effects of synthetic food preservatives. Let’s suppose that
my boss decides the synthetic food preservative he wants to
add to the botanical is butylated hydroxytoluene, also known
as BHT. This additive is commonly used in the food industry
and is found in almost every bag of chips or box of cereal.
BHT has been proven through experiments to result in fetal
abnormalities and raised cholesterol levels in animals. It has
also been mentioned that BHT could possibly have an effect
on escalating the growth of cancer [3]. If the BHT was
added and left unmentioned on the label, I would be
violating the code because of the dangerous health risks that
come along with it.
Another canon in the code of ethics states, “Engineers
shall be guided in all their relations by the highest standards
of honesty and integrity” [2]. It goes into more detail by
saying, “Engineers shall acknowledge their errors and shall
not distort of alter their facts” [2]. In my situation, the only
way for my essential oil to be completely effective in the
food processing industry is with the aid of the synthetic
additive. However for this to happen I have to “distort the
facts” when proclaiming my product. The decision I have to
make is deciding whether or not it is worth keeping it a
secret.
I can further contemplate this decision by reviewing the
canon in the code of ethics that says, “Engineers shall give
credit for engineering work to those to whom credit is due,
and will recognize the proprietary interests of others” [2].
Celina Celmo
My preservative would be credited to my name, however
that brings up another question of whether or not I actually
want it to be. I have to consider the possible consequences
that the future has to hold. For example, there could be a
time when a consumer sues a company for having products
that lead to cancer or another sickness/disorder. The
company could decide to examine products and find out that
it was a lie from the start. If this were to happen, I would
immediately lose my career.
Thus far, I have discussed several different downfalls of
the situation. However, it is equally as important to discuss
the benefits. One of the canons that I previously mentioned
states that “Engineers shall, whenever possible, name the
person or persons who may be individually responsible for
designs, inventions, writings, or other accomplishments” [2].
In other words, I am being credited for this invention. I
already discussed how this could end horribly, but it is
necessary to debate just the opposite.
I have been researching the topic of food processing
engineering since I graduated college. Therefore I am
positive that the botanical would be a success. Botanicals
work as a food preservative because they prevent the growth
of microorganisms, retard oxidation of fats, and inhibit
natural aging and discoloration [3]. Synthetics work the
exact same way, which is why adding it would only make
the resulting products that much better. Assuming that the
secret stays a secret forever, I would bring in enough money
to be set for the rest of my life. Essentially, this huge benefit
is exactly the reason why the choice I have to make is so
difficult.
I have concluded that the code of ethics is extremely
useful in aiding me towards my final decision. A lot of the
problems that I am running into throughout the process are
mentioned in the code.
OTHER VALUABLE SOURCES
Big decisions like this one require assistance from a wide
variety of sources. Regardless of the extensiveness of the
issue I am faced with, there are always two people in my life
that I would automatically turn to, my father and my sister. I
would consider them both to be useful sources in helping me
deal with my current ethical dilemma because they both
have years of experience. My sister is a graduate of the
Swanson School of Engineering and currently works for a
construction company as a project engineer. She has already
experienced multiple ethical scenarios where she had to
make a big decision. Similarly, my father has been a director
of field operations for a construction company for many
years and would be able to help me from a professional
standpoint.
After having a group discussion with the both of them,
my sister’s advice was to “look at the situation in the long
run perspective” [5]. This really got me thinking about my
future as a chemical engineer. My dad also added, “the only
way to deal with any type of problem is by investigating it
step by step” [6]. In other words, you cannot make a
decision instantly because it requires a lot of time and a lot
of effort. I have concluded that my sister and father are great
resources because they made me think more about the bigger
picture, which is essentially what I am most concerned
about.
ETHICAL ARTICLES
An article about the ethics of engineering states, “when
something goes wrong in an engineering project, the
responsibility falls heavily on the engineers” [7]. Engineers
are constantly being pressured by the world as a whole and
more specifically their managers, clients, and other
professional associations amongst them. Additionally, their
responsibility of handling massive projects could end
horribly with just one wrong move. El- Zein expresses the
responsibility of an engineer by saying; “Engineers build the
modern world and improve the lives of many” [8].
Therefore, it is important to discuss who could possibly be
affected by any situation. In my situation, my decision is
affecting my company, other companies that would
eventually invest in my innovation, and most importantly the
consumers. Both articles describe a scenario that emphasizes
the pressure of an engineer simply by paying closer attention
to the ethics involved.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERS CODE OF
ETHICS
The other code of ethics that must be taken into
consideration by professional engineers pertains to that
person’s specific field of study; mine being the Chemical
Engineers Code of Ethics. In addition to the NSPE Code of
Ethics, it is helpful in making my decision. I have noticed
that there are a lot of similar aspects between the two codes.
As a member of the American Institute of Chemical
Engineers, I am required to “Issue statements or present
information only in an objective and truthful manner” [4].
This follows along with the information I previously
mentioned about presenting false information. Although I
would be following another canon in the code by “acting as
a faithful employee,” I would not be acting “faithful” to the
world [4]. In my opinion, the effect my decision has on the
world is more significant than anything else.
CONCLUSION
The food industry, specifically food processing and
packing, has been a big controversy for an extensive period
of time. Nowadays, increasingly more people are trying to
go ‘all-natural’ because they think it is the healthiest
2
Celina Celmo
alternative for them. Others however, are highly against the
idea of going natural. When dealing with natural food
preservation, there are going to be many dilemmas in the
future that food-processing engineers are faced with.
Although I only described one specific situation, I learned
many useful objectives along the way. Generally speaking,
dealing with an ethical dilemma is not easy because it is not
something that can be answered right away. However when I
was put into a situation, I broke it down into smaller parts to
help make a final decision.
[3] R. Bhat, A. K. Alias, G. Paliyath. (2012). Progress in
Food Preservation. Oxford, UK; Ames, Iowa. (Print Book).
pp. 513-522
[4] “Code of Ethics.” AlChE. American Institute of
Chemical
Engineers,
2014.
(Website).
http://www.aiche.org/about/code-ethics
[5] N. Celmo. (2022, Mar. 16). Conversation.
[6] J. Celmo. (2022, Feb. 26). Conversation.
[7] J. M. Basart, M. Serra. (2011). “Engineering Ethics
Beyond Engineers’ Ethics.” Science and Engineering Ethics.
(Online article). 10.1007/s11948-011-9293-z
[8] A. El-Zein. (2013). “As Engineers.” The Guardian.com.
(Online
article).
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/05/en
gineering-moral-effects-technology-impact
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENGINEERS
I think one of the most important things to understand
when dealing with ethical issues is that nothing is “cut and
dry,” which is exactly what I quoted in the beginning of the
paper. I learned that many sources and tools must be used
when approaching an ethical issue with maximum
professional integrity in the field of engineering. There are
different ways that professional engineers may approach a
dilemma, however I would recommend some procedures
over others.
First, talk to the people that you would normally turn to
if there were complications in your life. If you don't have a
specific person in mind, venture out to an area where it is
quiet and easier to think about the situation. Talking with
other people will get your mind headed in the right direction.
When it comes time to consider the ethics of your situation,
you should immediately review the National Society of
Professional Engineers Code of Ethics as well as the Code of
Ethics dedicated to your specific field of study. The reason
for this is because every professional engineer is required to
follow these codes and violating them could result in serious
consequences. Another method that I would suggest would
be to look at how other people have dealt with similar
scenarios. Simply by studying case studies completed by
engineers of the past, you could gain a better standpoint on
your topic. Lastly, I would say the most important and time
consuming step would be to think about how the world
around you will be affected by your decision. With the
correct tools and processes that I mentioned, I believe that
every professional engineer of the future should be able to
make careful decisions when faced with an ethical dilemma.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
W.J. Frey. (2012). “Chemical A or B?” Online Ethics Case
Studies. http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases.aspx
K.S. Mangan. (2006). “Sometimes Silence is Golden”
Chronicle
of
Higher
Education.
http://www.webguru.neu.edu/professionalism/researchintegrity/ethics-case-studies
“The Coercive Contribution Conundrum- Case 1006”
University
of
Washington.
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/murdoughcenter/products/cases.ph
p
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, I would like to thank the writing center for
answering all of my questions at the beginning of the
assignment. Secondly, I would like to thank Emelyn
Fuhrman for doing an exceptional job explaining the
assignment. Most importantly, I want to thank my writing
instructor because she got my mind pointed in the right
direction. This assignment was very difficult and time
consuming, however it made me think even more about my
future and why I want to be an engineer.
REFERENCES
[1] E. Butterman. (2014). “Ethics in Engineering.”
ASME.org.
(Online
Article).
https://www.asme.org/engineeringtopics/articles/engineering-ethics/ethics-in-engineering
[2] “NSPE Code of Ethics For Engineers.” NESP. National
Society of Professional Engineers, 2014. (Website).
http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics
3