Day 030 - 03 Oct 94 - Page 36
1 that is not a manufacturer so much as a caterer, of course
2 as McDonald's are, can change the nature of the food that
3 is served, not only by changing the composition of
4 standard items like burgers, but also by adding items that
5 are available in the shops. Again, I believe McDonald's
6 have done to an extent in the States and to some extent
7 have done here as well.
8
9 Going back to your question, if your question is: Do
10 I believe McDonald's are responsive to the view of
11 government on fats, specifically on fat and heart disease
12 and fat and obesity, the answer is, yes. Indeed, the
13 nutrition task force I mentioned before, of which I am an
14 overall member, now has a project team specifically on the
15 issue of reformulation of manufacture of common
16 manufactured foods, and I think that McDonald's are
17 represented on that task force, although I would have to
18 check that. But, again, how far they can go and how far
19 they will go remains to be seen.
20
21 MR. MORRIS: If, which we do not have to decide now, but if it
22 is shown that the average McDonald's meal is higher in
23 fat, salt, and sugar and lower in fibre and fresh fruit
24 and vegetables than the average meal in the population,
25 then what is the conclusion that someone like yourself
26 would draw?
27 A. I would say that in as much as McDonald's serve in any
28 -- serve a significant amount of food eaten by British
29 people or serve a significant amount of food eaten by
30 certain sectors of the British people, like vulnerable
31 people, like children, and in as much as McDonald's
32 advertise their foods and project their foods as
33 desirable, then always with this qualification in as much
34 as that is a significant proportion of the diet of
35 individuals or groups in the population, then, yes, of
36 course, they would then contribute to the general risk.
37 I think it is important that a statement like that is not
38 over stated. I think it is unlikely that anyone in this
39 court or anyone in the street outside this court is going
40 to eat three McDonald's a day, or possibly even three a
41 week, although I am sure many children do. Three a week,
42 I mean; not three a day.
43
44 Q. When you say they make a contribution, does that mean that
45 those high fats, high salt, high sugar meals, are making a
46 contribution in terms of making the average worse rather
47 than better? Is that what you mean?
48 A. Yes. I think you are labouring the point a little
49 simple because I would go back to the original statement
50 complained of.
51
52 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Can you improve on what you have just said?
53 A. No.
54
55 MR. MORRIS: Is the average diet in this country considered to
56 be healthy as a base line?
57 A. No. That is the point. I mean, the reason why there
58 have been such very large number of reports published in
59 the US, the UK, northern Europe, Australasia and now
60 everywhere in the world, is the industrialised diet as
