0910GNorth America Flying] Argument101 by vikki_baifn

vikki_baifnUID: 2618941

TOPIC: ARGUMENT101 - The following appeared in a memo from the president of a company that makes breakfast cereals.

"In a recent study, subjects who ate soybeans at least five times per week had significantly lower cholesterol levels than subjects who ate no soy products. By fortifying our Wheat-O cereal with soy protein, we can increase sales by appealing to additional consumers who are concerned about their health. This new version of Wheat-O should increase company profits and, at the same time, improve the health of our customers."
WORDS: 133
TIME: 00:30:00
DATE: 2009-7-7 16:34:54

The memo expresses that from a recent study, we can learn that people who had soybeans at least five times per week had lower cholesterol levels than those who did not. The following expression considered that sales can be enhanced by fortifying their Wheat-O cereal with soy protein to meet the increasingly consume of health appealing consumers. Then the memo gives out the conclusion that the new version of Wheat-O should increase company profits and improve the health of our customers as well. However, such conclusion can not be evidenced by this argumentation with several logical mistakes as follows. So to speak, fortifying the soy protein in their product might not lead to a better sale of Wheal-O cereal or the improvement of the consumers.

On one hand, the new version of Wheat-O fortifying soy protein to the products do not mean to an increase of the company’s profits. Firstly, the research does not tell whether it is the soy protein effect on the level of cholesterol. Thus fortifying soy protein in Wheat-O cereal might not affect the cholesterol level, whether increase or decrease. If the new products do not work as what it is publicized, they could not be on sale. In such situation, no profits can be gained.

On the other hand, the new version might not improve the consumer’s health condition. To begin with, not everybody needs to low their cholesterol level. People, whose cholesterol levels are lower than the normal one, need to increase the cholesterol level but not to decrease it. So, not all consumers who concern about their healthy conditions need to low their cholesterol level.

In addition, for people who need to low their cholesterol level to keep health, there is not the only way of eating soybeans at least five days per week to achieve their goals. What’s more, the increasing of soy protein of Wheat-O cereal might not low consumer’s cholesterol level as soybeans do not contain soy protein only. At the same time, soy protein is not proved to be the effective facets of low the cholesterol level. Further more, it is difficult to tell why people need to have soybeans may choose cereal with soy protein as their consumption.

To sum up, fortifying Wheat-O cereal with soy protein is different from soybeans which effect to low the cholesterol level, so it could not be an effective way either to enhance the company’s profits or to improve consumer’s health.