Day 034 - 11 Oct 94 - Page 47


     
     1        studies and experiments in animals provide convincing
     2        evidence that increasing the intake of total fat increases
     3        the incidence of cancer at certain sites, particularly the
     4        breast and colon, and, conversely, that the risk is lower
     5        with lower intakes of fat".
     6
     7        What is perhaps worth noting is that as long ago as twelve
     8        years ago they would make a statement that the evidence at
     9        that time was convincing, that increasing intake of fat
    10        not "may" increase or "might" increase or "could", but
    11        that it in fact, "increases the incidence of cancer at
    12        certain sites, particularly the breast and colon, and,
    13        conversely, that the risk is lower with lower intakes of
    14        fat.  Data from studies in animals suggest that when fat
    15        intake is low, polyunsaturated fats are more effective
    16        than saturated fats in enhancing tumorigenesis" which
    17        simply means the beginning of tumour formation, "whereas
    18        the data on humans do not permit a clear distinction to be
    19        made between the effects of different components of fat",
    20        which has been a matter of continuing research since that
    21        time.   Quoting again:  "In general, however, the evidence
    22        from epidemiological and laboratory studies is
    23        consistent".
    24
    25        So that was back in 1982 based on the information already
    26        available at that time.  I think it was subsequent to this
    27        that virtually all American scientists and policy makers
    28        became quite convinced of the link and describes it in the
    29        causal terms that were indicated in this document.
    30
    31   MR. MORRIS:  Is that it on that one?
    32        A.  Yes, thank you.
    33
    34   Q.   Just two more documents.  If I read out something to you,
    35        give me your opinion on this.
    36
    37   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What are you going to read?
    38
    39   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord -- it does not matter -- we have been
    40        through this before; it will be one of McDonald's own
    41        documents, I suspect.
    42
    43   MR. MORRIS:  Thank you for that.
    44
    45   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I am not sure it is.
    46
    47   MR. MORRIS:  I was going to say that Mr. Rampton was making a
    48        very unhelpful comment because I wanted to read it to the
    49        witness with an open mind so that he could judge.  There
    50        is not much point in doing it now really. 
    51 
    52   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Why not?  That is for me to decide, is it 
    53        not?  All I want to know is what it is.  I mean, this case
    54        is not going to hang on little twists and turns like
    55        this.
    56
    57   MR. MORRIS:  No, but I think that it is an important thing if
    58        I want to cross-examine a witness that Mr. Rampton does
    59        not try to influence the questions I am putting to him.
    60        The reason that I wanted to do it without referring to

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