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
