So how much do you trust companies?

[Mr Slugger]

Just kinda throwing this out as a hypothetical.

Say a company had a product and it contained ingredient A, now ingredient A is kinda new and only lightly used. But the product becomes a hit. The company then finds out through their own research that it's bad to consume in the levels they're using it in.

Do you trust companies enough to come clean? Or do you think they'd change the recipe and remove ingredient A, leave it alone until the FDA figures it out?

Honestly I think companies would phase the ingredient out before coming clean, unless they're already under the microscope for something else.

[joe hx]

Funny thing about companies is that they're just like people. There's honest companies and dishonest companies.

A recent example that parallels your story is that of trans fat. It's not illegal (yet). Some companies (such as KFC) have removed trans fat from their product, even though legally they probably could've gotten away without doing so.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I don't trust them at all.

Wait, was this a trick question?

[Boozy]

I don't trust companies until I really get to know them. A least a few dinner dates, maybe meet their folks.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I don't trust research. For one thing, research has proven that practically everything is bad for you at one point, and if you believed everything you read, you'd starve to death cuz no food is safe. -.-

[Gravekeeper]

How about this: Does your trust of a company, consciously or unconsciously, seem to scale with the size of the company?

[Talon]

I trust companies.

I trust them to prioritize their profit margins above all else. If they "do the right thing", it's at their convenience, because they'd rather avoid a PR scandal, which translates to lost money.

[BlaqueKatt]

A recent example that parallels your story is that of trans fat. It's not illegal (yet). Some companies (such as KFC) have removed trans fat from their product, even though legally they probably could've gotten away without doing so.

Funny you should mention that-the Center for science in the public interest-CSPI -- one of the ban's primary advocates -- has done a complete "180" on trans fats over the last fifteen years. In the early '80s, its nutrition activists successfully pressured restaurants to use less saturated fat, while dismissing the health risks associated with trans fats (the only viable replacement)

[BroomJockey]

I trust a company to do what's best for it. If what's best for it is best for me, I trust them. If not, I'll be careful.

My bank, for instance. It's in their best interest to keep me there, with my money, and be able to pay back any loans and debts I accumulate, otherwise their profits go down, so I trust them to keep my money safe.

Similar with transit. Keeping their equipment safe keeps me safe, otherwise they'd spend more in replacing it, and lose passengers, so they maintain it, and get rid of bad drivers.

As for any "ZOMG THIS FOOD IS BAD FOR YOU" stuff, I don't pay attention to ANY of it. I remember when they said eggs were to be avoided. So I'll just eat what I want, and deal with any eventual consequences.

[Fashion Lad!]

For the most part, I don't trust companies at all. I don't even trust the government. Everyone is out for themselves for the most part. There are companies that are going to do better if you do better, but they don't want you to do better because they like you. They went you to do better so they can do better.

[Tanasi]

Any companies primary purpose is to make money. They don't exist to give anyone a job, however by hiring folks to accomplish certain tasks and that makes the company more money then it benefits all concerned. All that being said why is anyone surprised when a company doesn't something in it's best interest? While many make it personal association, a job is nothing but a business relationship between the employer and the employee and the company is going to make the best deal that benefits them instead of the employee afterall that's good business.
Knowing all this I think it behooves all employees to know as much about their job and business as possible. It keeps the employee informed and hopefully not surprised by certain business decisions.
Do I trust the company I work for? So far, but I also know the above.