Day 265 - 19 Jun 96 - Page 14
1 diet are now changing very fast in societies in transition
2 and correspondingly rates of diet related diseases such as
3 obesity, high blood pressure, adult onset diabetes,
4 coronary heart disease and colo-rectal and breast cancer
5 are now increasing very rapidly. Case studies of such
6 societies now being prepared at the London School of
7 Hygiene and Tropical Medicine following an international
8 forum on the subject held at the school in April" -- that
9 is April of this year?
10 A. Yes.
11
12 Q. "... attest that industrialised diets play a major part in
13 changing disease patterns throughout the world. Anybody
14 who watches television or reads the newspaper or travels
15 anywhere in the world would, I think, agree that McDonald's
16 has a significant role in this process.
17
18 "Knowledge McDonald's has of this process. I have been
19 asked for my view of whether McDonald's as a company are
20 aware of the facts and judgments I have summarised here. I
21 think this is for the Court to judge. The information I
22 have given is not, I think, controversial and is certainly
23 well known to anybody in the field."
24 That is your signature; yes?
25 A. Yes.
26
27 Q. And do you stand by that statement?
28 A. Yes.
29
30 Q. Just one final question. I will read out the meaning that
31 the judge has --
32
33 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Well, I think we had better have it in front
34 of us, especially Mr. Cannon ought to have it in front of
35 him.
36
37 MR. MORRIS: There is a copy of it here. (Same handed).
38
39 Q. I will read the bits out and ask you whether you agree with
40 it: "McDonald's food is very unhealthy".
41
42 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You are not being asked whether you agree
43 that that is the meaning of the leaflet because that has
44 been decided.
45 A. Right. Thank you.
46
47 Q. You will be asked to assume that that is the meaning and
48 then Mr. Morris will ask you something as to whether you
49 think that statement is justified, i.e. true in fact.
50 A. Thank you.
51
52 MR. MORRIS: "McDonald's food is very unhealthy because it is
53 high in fat, sugar, animal products and salt (sodium) and
54 low in fibre, vitamins and minerals and because eating it
55 may well make your diet high in fat, sugar, animal products
56 and salt (sodium) and low in fibre, vitamins and minerals
57 with the very real risk that you will suffer cancer of the
58 breast or bowel or heart disease as a result. McDonald's
59 know this but they do not make it clear. They still sell
60 the food and they deceive customers by claiming that their
