Day 014 - 20 Jul 94 - Page 53
1 nitrites, particularly, may convert into nitroso
compounds?
2 A. That is right.
3 Q. In the in vivo in the body?
A. Yes.
4
Q. It is certain, is it not, that certain of those nitroso
5 compounds are carcinogenic?
A. That is right. I should point out that just because
6 it has been demonstrated under laboratory conditions that
a compound has been shown to be carcinogenic does not, of
7 course, mean it actually causes cancer in humans.
8 Q. I should have asked that you that further question. When
I said "carcinogenic", I was going to ask you,
9 carcinogenic to what and whom in what circumstances? And
you say laboratory conditions. I want to explore that a
10 bit further. To experimental animals?
A. Yes, I am not familiar with the actual details.
11
Q. But, generally speaking?
12 A. Yes, and, of course, again it would be very dependent
on the dose that was used.
13
Q. I am not asking you to trespass on Professor Walker's
14 territory. We will have all that next week. But
obviously it is necessary, so you tell us, for you to have
15 some knowledge ---
A. That is right.
16
Q. -- of what substances are or are not safe in human use.
17 The sort of dosages involved in experimental work in
animals in a laboratory are they similar to the sort of
18 dosages allowed by regulation in humans, or are they
greater or smaller?
19 A. Normally, they would be much higher, and based on the
results of these laboratory investigations, then the
20 decisions would be made as to how much would be allowed to
be used in foods in practice.
21
Q. Can I take you very quickly through condemned additives --
22 I say "condemned", condemned by the defendants -- and ask
you in turn about each one the same question, which is
23 this: Are you aware of any convincing or credible
scientific evidence that these additives in the quantities
24 in which they are permitted to be used by McDonald's in
food constitutes any significant hazard to human health?
25 That is the question each time. I will go through the
substances and ask you whether your answer is "yes" or
26 "no". First of all, sunset yellow?
A. No, I am not aware of any information that would
27 suggest it would be dangerous.
28 Q. Amaranth?
A. No.
29
Q. Sodium nitrate?
30 A. No.
