Day 123 - 09 May 95 - Page 43


     
     1        evidence" -- I will emphasise what I think are the key
     2        words --"considerable amount of evidence suggest that many
     3        of diseases which are more common in the western affluent
     4        world, diseases such obesity, diabetes, high blood
     5        pressure, heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer
     6        are related to diet."  Do you have any problem with that?
     7        A.  Do I have a problem with that?
     8
     9   Q.   With any of that?
    10        A.  I would like to say that I would like to see the
    11        studies.  I have certainly heard that in the news, yes, but
    12        I have not reviewed any studies or looked at any
    13        conclusions.
    14
    15   Q.   If this was in a leaflet about McDonald's food, would you
    16        have any problems with what it says there?
    17        A.  Yes, I would.
    18
    19   Q.   Why is that?
    20        A.  Because, you know, I do not think that in reading that
    21        you could conclude that our food is -- one could conclude
    22        that our food is unhealthy in reading that, and that is not
    23        the case.
    24
    25   Q.   The next sentence says:  "The typical western diet is
    26        relatively low in dietary fibre (roughage) and high in fat
    27        salt and sugar", you do not have any problem with that
    28        sentence, do you?
    29        A.  Yes, I have problem with that.
    30
    31   Q.   Why?
    32        A.  Well, I think anything consumed in excess could be
    33        harmful, and to use that statement in the general context
    34        of McDonald's I think is again an unfair characterisation,
    35        or an unfair association with our menu.
    36
    37   Q.   I will read the next sentence:  "Many countries have
    38        therefore" -- note the "therefore" -- published dietary
    39        guidelines.  General recommendations concerning diet which
    40        are aimed at the whole population in order to prevent" --
    41        I underline "prevent" -- "these diseases and to promote
    42        good health".  Do you have any problem with that?
    43        A.  We publish booklets, nutrition booklets.  They are
    44        available to our consumers, so they can make informed
    45        choices from our menu.  Again, you know, I make the point,
    46        (I made the point earlier) an informed public is really
    47        going to be our best consumer.  So I certainly would
    48        support the publication of nutritional guidelines and
    49        what-not, in the sense it would help consumers, would be a
    50        guide to consumers, but to have all of that verbiage, you 
    51        know, used in the context with McDonald's I think is just 
    52        unfair, and really a miss statement. 
    53
    54   Q.   Do you have any problem as a McDonald's representative, or
    55        even as a lay person, with the word "prevent" being used?
    56        I will read that again: "Many countries have therefore
    57        published dietary guidelines, general recommendations
    58        concerning diet, which are aimed at the whole population,
    59        in order to prevent these diseases which we name above"
    60        which included obesity and cancer, high blood pressure and

Prev Next Index