Day 021 - 29 Jul 94 - Page 37
1 MR. RAMPTON: Can I simply ask that if any of the defendants'
witnesses is going to refer to them that we should get
2 them in good time.
3 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes. Have you actually got a copy or is it
just something you had heard of and wondered if this
4 witness could help on?
5 MR. MORRIS: It is something that has been mentioned in passing
in one of our -----
6
MS. STEEL: We are intended to get hold of a copy.
7
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, very well.
8
MR. MORRIS: I thought Professor Wheelock might know. If a
9 pamphlet is produced by HMSO, does that mean it is
government approved?
10
MR. JUSTICE BELL: No, I do not think so. It is the HM
11 stationery office which prints and publishes a wide range
of publications, many of the things may be strict
12 government publications, but that does not necessarily
follow, does it?
13 A. I think that would be fair comment.
14 MR. MORRIS: Just a question -- in your statement?
A. Which page, please?
15
Q. We might as well go to it, page 97 at the bottom?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. The paragraph at the bottom starts: "We simply do not
know enough the links between diet and disease to advise
18 people what to eat in order to avoid all conceivable
risks." Then it goes on about smoking. It says:
19 "Third, there has to be a trade-off between achieving
safety and the costs involved. The more we attempt to
20 reduce hazards, the greater will be the cost and the range
of foods will be restricted very considerably."
21
Are you saying that for McDonald's to increase their range
22 of foods or to sell other products that are not high in
salt, saturated fat and sugar, for example, it would cost
23 them money?
A. No, I am not saying that. What I am saying is that,
24 in general terms, the more emphasis we put on safety, I
mean, if we take the view that we wish to attract -- to
25 reduce or eliminate all possible risks, then inevitably it
is going to mean that the costs (which, of course, will be
26 passed on to the consumer) will be increased and the
amount of food, that is, the range of food that we have
27 will be restricted, because it will mean some food will be
banned purely because somebody somewhere says: "There is
28 a risk that this food may cause a disease".
29 Q. But you are talking here about links between diet and
disease, yes?
30 A. Yes.
