Day 013 - 19 Jul 94 - Page 20
1 read A, B and C, then D, and then what Mr. Shelden on
behalf of Mr. Van de Kamp thinks; then his suggestions as
2 a result.
3 MR. MORRIS: I will not labour this point, but if we do look
at 59AE which is in tab 4D.
4 A. Sorry, what tab?
5 Q. 59AE, tab 4D, McDonald's is concerned about the
practicability.
6
MR. RAMPTON: Would you care to read the whole paragraph?
7
MR. MORRIS: I will not read the whole paragraph AE, "Why don't
8 you label your products? Quite simply, it is not
practical or economical to do so". It goes on to say:
9 "It is recognised that it is a difficult thing". But on
the economical considerations, would you feel that if the
10 practical considerations could be overcome you would be
willing to put the ingredients on all your products on the
11 packaging, if the practical matters could be resolved?
A. I am not the right person to be asking that question.
12
MS. STEEL: Can you turn to tab 9 in that document?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. The memo to Stephanie Skurdy from Al Smedley on March
18th, 1986?
15 A. Yes, I am there.
16 Q. Can you turn to point 4?
A. I am there.
17
Q. "We all seem to agree that, if possible, McDonald's should
18 attempt to deflect the basic negative thrust of our
critics by creating a scenario where we take the high
19 road". So, it is apparent from this that McDonald's was
under some kind of criticism over its products already at
20 this stage?
A. I was not at this meeting but that is, I guess that is
21 something you might draw from that. I mean, it is no
secret that we are criticised, it seems, many times by the
22 Centre for Science in the Public Interest, or other groups
in the United States, who would rather see us doing things
23 other than we are doing.
24 Q. Groups and people that are concerned about nutrition?
A. And other things.
25
Q. This memo is about nutrition, is it not?
26 A. Yes, this memo is.
27 Q. So it is quite apparent that you were under criticism
because people were concerned that your products were not
28 healthy?
A. It is just hard for me to answer your question because
29 I do not know, not having attended this meeting, not
having been copied on this memo, and I do not know what
30 the criticisms are but, clearly, they are criticisms as
you point out.
