Day 298 - 11 Nov 96 - Page 30
1 between 67 and 77 percent of visits to fast food outlets
2 were made by people who visited it at least once a week.
3 And the reference for that was, I think, day -- I think it
4 was the first time Mr. Fairgrieve gave evidence, on page
5 55, line 8. He said that the figure ----
6
7 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Do you actually have the day or just that it
8 was the first time he came?
9
10 MS. STEEL: I think it the first time he gave evidence, which
11 I think I said this morning was day 28. But he said the
12 figure that appears in the 1994 first quarter of 67 percent
13 under the column "heavy users", he said that it meant 67
14 percent of visits to fast food outlets were made by people
15 who visited at least once a week, which really goes along
16 with his statement that the people who were eating at
17 McDonald's on a regular basis were also eating at other
18 fast food outlets.
19
20 MR. MORRIS: Just a bit of tidying up now. We have nearly
21 finished. Just on the subject of frequency of visits, I
22 don't know if Helen mentioned, but 67 percent of McDonald's
23 workers in this country are eating there four or more times
24 a week, according to the survey.
25
26 Some other points regarding Professor Keene. I have not
27 got the references for this, but he estimated five percent
28 of western populations affected by diabetes and that
29 obesity was shown to be clearly linked with an increased
30 risk of diabetes. This is the diabetes we are concerned
31 about here, that is linked to diet. He said "The link
32 between the obesity and diabetes development, i.e., causal
33 link, is universally accepted."
34
35 He accepted the World Health Organisation's view that
36 dietary factors are now known to be associated with the
37 development of a wide range of chronic diseases. That is
38 the conclusion of the WHO report we looked at, which
39 includes heart disease, hypertension, cancer and diabetes.
40 His view of the WHO report was that they "represent state
41 of the art and the state of scientific opinion, so they are
42 regarded with considerable respect." Concluded by him, of
43 course. I don't think there is any further need to comment
44 on his evidence.
45
46 There was a quote from Mr. Oakley which had been missed
47 out. We have not got a reference for it. But he did say
48 that reducing salt and sugar content was "a responsible
49 thing to do" in regards to McDonald's own food products as
50 it would be "healthier for the customers". So here is
51 another recognition, if any was needed, that the company is
52 quite aware the food can be characterised, individual
53 products can be characterised, as healthy, unhealthy,
54 healthier or less healthy, whatever, and that they are
55 trying to make their products more healthy by reducing the
56 ingredients, obviously, that are the problem, such as fat,
57 salt and sugar. But, as we have heard, that is very
58 superficial, what they had done, but at least it was a
59 recognition of our case, we would say.
60
