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The Plumpy'nut Controversy


            
             Nutriset is a French company that has patented the formula for Plumpy'nut. Plumpy'nut was created to combat malnutrition in children in under developed countries. It is a ready to eat peanut butter paste, packed with vitamins and minerals. Nearly half of all child deaths worldwide are contributed to malnutrition (Child Malnutrition). Plumpy'nut provides a source of vitamins desperately needed worldwide for undernourished children. Nutriset's main facility is in France, but has franchises in other countries where malnutrition runs rampant. Nutriset facilities provide nourishment for 1-2 million children, but its capacity does not reach all of the 925 million undernourished children around the world (BMGT 496 6381 Business Ethics (2148)). .
             Facts Summary .
             UNICEF is the primary retailer of Plumpy'nut, purchasing about 90% of Nutriset's production from France. Other facilities produce Plumpy'nut locally with locally grown produce, while also providing a source of employment for surrounding communities. The capacity of Nutriset's production is nowhere near what is required to eradicate the malnutrition epidemic. Nutriset has patented the formula for Plumpy'nut. This patent prevents other countries and organizations from producing the peanut paste. If other countries were able to produce the ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF), Plumpy'nut would be available in a capacity that could eliminate malnutrition worldwide. .
             Nutriset is faced with ethical dilemmas related to its patent. If the patent is released, more Plumpy'nut would be available for many more malnourished children but many people in currently umployed by franchises of Nutriset could lose their jobs due to a decrease in production at local facilities. On the other hand, if Nutriset does not lose its patent rights, the malnutrition epidemic will continue to spread and more children could suffer because Nutriset's production capacity is insufficient for this epidemic.


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