Day 297 - 08 Nov 96 - Page 39
1 reference.
2
3 MS. STEEL: I think it was that they should set the price so as
4 to encourage people to eat, to choose those options, to
5 choose the healthier options, but, I mean, I have not read
6 it recently and I cannot remember. (Pause)
7
8 The leaflet stated that to assist customers to eat healthy,
9 McDonald's are "constantly making our menu more
10 nutritious", and Dr. Lobstein said that this implied that
11 they were making efforts, but they still had quite a way to
12 go. That was day 32, page 47.
13
14 And I think you interpreted the phrase "even more
15 nutritious" as an averment that the food had been
16 nutritious in the first place. In other words, that
17 McDonald's were at present saying that they were claiming
18 that their food was good and nutritious. That was day 32,
19 page 49.
20
21 Obviously, that is what we argue, that McDonald's claim
22 that their food is nutritious, and I think that they are
23 hardly denying it anyway, but that is what the London
24 Greenpeace fact sheet refers to as well.
25
26 Dr. Lobstein said that if McDonald's were claiming that
27 their food was good and nutritious he would beg to differ.
28 That was day 32, page 49. And he said that it was not a
29 very truthful way of expressing their view.
30
31 He referred to the situation in America and said that the
32 level of advertising conducted there created statements
33 that were misleading. That was day 32, page 50. And he
34 expressed concern with that image. That was day 32, page
35 51.
36
37 Dr. Lobstein considered that McDonald's use of the phrase
38 "nutritional value" was -- well, it was an ill-defined
39 phrase which is no more than a public relations attempt.
40 And professionals would not use that phrase, instead, they
41 would, or they might, refer to nutrient density. That was
42 day 32, page 53. I don't know whether we want the break.
43
44 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I think we had better have one. Five
45 minutes.
46
47 (Short Adjournment)
48
49 MS. STEEL: Dr. Lobstein's view was that ingredients should be
50 listed on the actual cartons and packages. That was day
51 32, page 53. When he was being cross-examined by
52 Mr. Rampton, Dr. Lobstein would not entirely accept that it
53 is the frequency with which people consume unhealthy foods
54 that matters, he believed that manufacturers still had a
55 responsibility which increases with the greater the
56 frequency eaten and the greater the promotion of the
57 product. That was day 32, page 57. He agreed that in an
58 unhealthy diet where a McDonald's is consumed once a week
59 it made a proportionate risk to health. That was day 32,
60 page 74.
