Day 032 - 06 Oct 94 - Page 50
1 A. Well, as I have tried to indicate before, I have
2 severe doubts about calling food that is low in nutrients
3 for its fatty and calorie value nutritious. So, I would
4 have to say that I found that not a very truthful way of
5 expressing their view.
6
7 MR. MORRIS: To move on, just very briefly, one of your
8 references The Balance of Good Health -- I think we have
9 already covered most of it -- can you just say something
10 about this document, any brief points you have to say on
11 it?
12 A. Yes. I am not sure I have that one. Do I need it?
13 (Handed).
14
15 Q. Would you just briefly explain this document and any brief
16 comment?
17 A. This document, as I recognise it, was issued by the
18 Department of Health earlier this year. I notice it comes
19 from the Health Education Authority at the bottom.
20
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Is this 2A or 2B? It is all part of the
22 same ----
23 A. It reflects, as I understand it, a long debate going
24 on within the Department of Health and its advisors on how
25 best to present a health education message, whether it
26 should be in pyramid form or other forms. They ended up
27 with a plate attempting to represent foods that you should
28 eat roughly in the proportion they feel is sufficient for
29 a good diet.
30
31 There has been a lot of argument about the bottom section,
32 about whether it should be present at all. They have
33 ended up with putting a section in there but saying: "Try
34 not to eat these too often".
35
36 MR. MORRIS: Which sections are those?
37
38 MR. JUSTICE BELL: The little slice at the bottom.
39 A. The fatty and sugary foods.
40
41 MR. JUSTICE BELL: On the basis that if you have something
42 which is headed "The Balance of Good Health" it would be
43 better not to include any of that at all?
44 A. That there is no need to put it in is the point that
45 many raised.
46
47 MR. MORRIS: OK. We can move on from that.
48 A. I understood this to have been published approximately
49 July this year.
50
51 Q. Ingredients, labelling, I leave that for the moment. In
52 terms of advertising in the media or actually on products
53 themselves or in stores, whatever, are you aware of any
54 differences between here and America in the approach of
55 the authorities in monitoring advertising? Just say "no"
56 if you are not aware.
57 A. Well, apart from the issue that has already come up in
58 this court earlier to do with the several states in
59 America feeling that the level of advertising being
60 conducted by McDonald's was making statements that were
