Day 032 - 06 Oct 94 - Page 45
1 note that McDonald's has been making some changes to the
2 specification to the composition of its foods. Without
3 going into those details (which we have had at other times
4 in the case) could you elaborate on your comments that you
5 made?
6 A. Yes. I mean, the evidence that we have been given
7 from Verner Wheelock that I was responding to outlined
8 several ways in which McDonald's had improved their
9 formulations and their practices towards what they hoped
10 would meet a healthier diet. It is my belief that this is
11 largely in response to reports such as what you call the
12 Grey Book and other previous reports, World Health
13 Organisation and other encouragement from both government
14 and from the consumer to provide better foods, healthier
15 foods or, at least, to appear to be providing them.
16
17 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Is that a criticism though?
18 A. Well, it is to say, perhaps, they are consumer led or
19 government voice and consumer voice led in their change of
20 marketing plans.
21
22 MR. MORRIS: I mean, their concern about healthy eating and
23 criticism of fastfood or whatever, has that been going on
24 for a long time, decades?
25 A. Yes. I am sure you are aware there have been articles
26 in the media and elsewhere criticising both the
27 environmental and the nutritional impact of increasing
28 consumptions of fastfoods, particularly in America where
29 these things appear to have started, for 20 or 30 years
30 there has been this sort of argument.
31
32 I would say it came to a peak during the 80s,
33 particularly, at about the time of the leaflet in question
34 in this case, with television programmes with concerns
35 over children's diet with reports from the first the NACNE
36 Committee and then the World Health Organisation on what
37 is a healthy diet and so on. I would say this was very
38 much a key focus of the mid-80s. I would say McDonald's
39 responded after that with the beginnings of changes to
40 their formulations.
41
42 Q. If it was to be ascertained that their diet was still high
43 in fat, sodium and sugar and low in fibre and essential
44 minerals, vitamins, would the changes that they had made
45 be considered to be of significance to change your view of
46 what you have expressed already?
47 A. Well, I would argue that they might be sufficient in
48 that there were possible other factors. For example, the
49 pricing of certain -- some of the new foods they are
50 introducing such as salads and so on might well be priced
51 disadvantageously, thereby not encouraging people to
52 consume them. So there were pricing as well as access and
53 promotion questions to be asked in whether sufficient
54 attention has been given to encourage a healthier diet.
55
56 Q. I do not know if you know this, but it has been said that
57 salad is not a standard menu item; it is available in some
58 stores but not others. Would that indicate anything to
59 you?
60 A. That access has not been made available to all
