Day 297 - 08 Nov 96 - Page 38


     
     1        example that salads were not available in all the stores.
     2        That was day 32, page 45.  Although bearing in mind the
     3        evidence we have heard about how the fat content of the
     4        salads is pretty horrendously high, I am not sure that
     5        would make a lot of difference, but....
     6
     7        I think the point was made in relation to -- was it the
     8        McLean deluxe in the US -- that the company brought in this
     9        product and was not particularly promoting it, and then we
    10        had the later admission that effectively what they were
    11        keeping it there for was to use as a shield against the
    12        criticisms of nutritionists.  That was an admission from Ed
    13        Rensi, an executive of McDonald's Corporation.
    14
    15   MR. MORRIS:   He was the president, yes.
    16
    17   MS. STEEL:   Dr. Lobstein suggested that McDonald's should look
    18        at their promotional activities to see if they could
    19        increase their responsibility by promoting more healthy
    20        options.  That was day 32, page 46.
    21
    22        Dr. Lobstein was referred to the McDonald's publication,
    23        the leaflet, Nutrition, a Question of Balance, which was
    24        produced in January 1994, and he agreed with the quote from
    25        the leaflet that McDonald's have a responsibility to help
    26        customers eat a healthy balanced diet.  And he suggested
    27        that if they were taking that seriously, that they should
    28        re-examine the formulations and pricing policies of the
    29        food and look at the menu items, their availability,
    30        promotions and advertising.  That was day 32, page 47.
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What was he saying about the pricing
    33        policies, can you remember?
    34
    35   MS. STEEL:   I cannot actually remember, but I think it was
    36        something to do with the healthier options, so-called
    37        healthier options being ----
    38
    39   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   More expensive.
    40
    41   MS. STEEL:   Yes, or I don't know, I can't remember exactly, but
    42        something to do with that.  Whether the price should be
    43        made -- well, just that the price should be made lower so
    44        that they were more attractive.
    45
    46   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   I queried it, because I remember someone
    47        from McDonald's saying the idea was to be able to provide a
    48        meal for four, two parents, two children, for £10.
    49
    50   MS. STEEL:   I don't remember that.  I am sure it would not be a
    51        very nutritious meal.
    52
    53   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think the idea was that you would get your
    54        burger or Chicken McNuggetts, your chips and drink four
    55        times over for £10.  Anyway, that is why I asked, because I
    56        could not remember Dr. Lobstein saying that, but you think
    57        it was suggested that....  I think it is more likely that
    58        the price might be higher, that the food might be of
    59        greater nutritional quality by his test, albeit that the
    60        price would go up.  But I may be wrong.  I will look at the

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