Day 021 - 29 Jul 94 - Page 59


     
     1        me to ask him?
 
     2   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I would like to know whether that is so and,
              if so, which ones.
     3
         MR. RAMPTON:  You did not start advising McDonald's until 1991,
     4        is that right?
              A.  That is right.  Yes.
     5
         Q.   So it follows that what we have just been looking at has
     6        no input from you, is that right?
              A.  That is right.
     7
         Q.   What role do you play in the production of McDonald's
     8        nutritional information?
              A.  Well, normally I would be asked to have a look at it
     9        before it is finally approved, but I do not write it
              myself.
    10
         Q.   Suppose you came across something you thought was
    11        scientifically incorrect or apt to mislead the customer or
              anything else like that, what would you say about that?
    12        A.  I would create a great fuss and make sure it was
              changed.
    13
         Q.   Have you had to create great fusses in the past?
    14        A.  No.  I might have had a comment, but there has never
              been any occasion where there has been a fundamental
    15        disagreement between me and the people who actually
              produced it in the first instance.
    16
         Q.   If you had to say something or if you have had to say
    17        something to the effect, "Well, I do not think that is
              quite right", do they pay any attention to what you say?
    18        A.  Yes.
 
    19   Q.   I want to come back to the anaemic school girls for two
              reasons.
    20        A.  Is there a reference?
 
    21   Q.   No, I will give you the reference in a moment.  On Friday
              21st July, which is day 16, Ms. Steel put it to you -- my
    22        Lord, the reference is page 11 at line 18 -- that
              McDonald's did not put in their advertisement explicit
    23        warning to the effect: "This food could damage your health
              if it is eaten in large quantities."  You said, which I am
    24        sure is right: "No, they do not.  I do not think there is
              any disagreement about that."  Then Ms. Steel put it to
    25        you: "But I think you did agree that if people ate it two
              or three times a day at least, it would be bad for their 
    26        health."  You responded: "Yes.  Can I say that we did 
              agree that that was just a hypothetical situation, and 
    27        perhaps I might just point out that if McDonald's are to
              be criticised on those grounds, then you may remember that
    28        we also produced evidence to show that people who are
              vegetarians, vegetarian school girls, suffer from three
    29        times the anaemia of school girls who are not
              vegetarians.  If you are going to criticise McDonald's on
    30        those grounds, you ought equally to criticise the people
              who are advocating vegetarianism for young school girls."

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