Day 067 - 15 Dec 94 - Page 44
1 A. They could supply beef to our suppliers, that is a
2 correct statement.
3
4 Q. Because that is what you said in your statement on
5 page 2 ---
6 A. Yes.
7
8 Q. -- of your first statement: "I can confirm that Connagra
9 do supply beef to McDonald's suppliers"?
10 A. Then I understand your question if you know the answer.
11
12 Q. I do not understand why you are not willing to admit it if
13 you are putting it in your statement, but anyway ....
14 A. I thought I did.
15
16 Q. OK. Going back to -----
17
18 MR. RAMPTON: Mr. Morris has made a pugnacious comment.
19 I believe the witness should be allowed to deal with it.
20
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I do not think you need to because I have got
22 the position, and there is a very important distinction
23 between abattoirs who supply meat to processors who then
24 supply patties to McDonald's and the actual supplier of the
25 patties, if only because it is quite clear that McDonald's
26 leave quite lot of responsibility in the latter for
27 checking up on proper standards. But my interruption a
28 moment ago is really to ask why we have gone on to Connagra
29 at all at this point in the cross-examination.
30
31 MR. MORRIS: Maybe it can come up another time.
32 (To the witness): While we are still on the main issue
33 which is McDonald's policy, you say the Humane Slaughter
34 Act, which is something that is more wide than that
35 document we have seen, apparently, it is claimed, is your
36 policy in effect; is that correct?
37 A. Let me see if I understood your question. You are
38 asking me if our policy is to follow the Humane Slaughter
39 Act? Is that your question?
40
41 Q. It is the law of the country so you have to comply with
42 that.
43 A. Yes, we have to comply with that; we have no choice.
44
45 Q. But you are also saying that is the policy of the
46 McDonald's Corporation, in other words, you positively
47 say: "We agree with this; this is our policy"?
48 A. Our policy is to comply with all regulations. It is
49 not like we have a choice. We comply with those, whether
50 we want it or not -- if you let me finish, Mr. Morris --
51 that makes it our policy. When we do not have a choice
52 because of regulations, it becomes an automatic part of our
53 policy. We do not have a choice. That is well understood
54 by everybody.
55
56 Q. Has your department ever sent the Humane Slaughter
57 regulations out to anyone to say: "This is our policy;
58 conform with it" or whatever, can you remember?
59 A. I cannot speak for my entire department.
60
