Day 069 - 19 Dec 94 - Page 24
1 and even outside of the facilities.
2
3 Q. Why do they inspect outside?
4 A. To ensure that nothing will come from the outside that
5 might get into the meat plant. So they inspect the outside
6 for cleanliness, to make sure that there are pest controls
7 in place, all of those things. They also inspect the
8 animals for the welfare, to make sure that they are
9 humanely treated.
10
11 Q. Is this Tysons plant, as it were, a birth to grave
12 operation?
13 A. I am not sure -----
14
15 Q. This Tyson plant is using Tyson's own chickens?
16 A. That is correct.
17
18 Q. Where is the slaughtering facility in relation to the
19 processing plant?
20 A. In the same location; obviously, they are separated,
21 but the same area, the same facility.
22
23 Q. Does McDonald's have any other chicken supplier in the
24 United States?
25 A. Yes, we do. We have another company called Keystone,
26 or Equity. Keystone is the mother company.
27
28 Q. I think you told us about that last week. I think you told
29 us you had visited their processing plants, as well?
30 A. Yes, I have.
31
32 Q. And their slaughtering facilities?
33 A. That is correct.
34
35 Q. As compared with Tyson's conditions, say, at this Nashville
36 plant in Arkansas, what are the conditions at Equity like?
37 A. I do not see any difference.
38
39 Q. Do they use similar sorts of equipment?
40 A. Yes, that is correct.
41
42 Q. Are their staff trained in matters of hygiene?
43 A. Absolutely, yes. They are extensively trained
44 by ourselves and by consultants and by their own company.
45
46 MR. RAMPTON: Thank you, Dr. Gomez Gonzalez.
47
48 MR. JUSTICE BELL: When you give a temperature in degrees like
49 zero degrees, you are talking Fahrenheit, I assume?
50 A. That is correct. So far, to date, that is correct.
51
52 Q. So Celsius has not got to the States yet -- or has it?
53 A. It is not very common, no. We do have -- part of our
54 specifications are for both, so it is Fahrenheit and
55 Celsius. Thank you for the correction.
56
57 MR. RAMPTON: Just to make sure that I have that right,
58 zero Fahrenheit is 35 degrees?
59 A. Minus 18 degrees C, 18.8 degrees C.
60
