Day 039 - 20 Oct 94 - Page 13


     
     1        Then, of course, over and above that, we have all too many
     2        cases where children and their families identify those
     3        compounds which cause them problems, they seek to avoid
     4        them, then they might inadvertently consume something.
     5        That often happens when they visit other people's homes or
     6        visit a catering establishment, and also when they receive
     7        free samples, which are often not subject to labelling
     8        regulations because they are not offered for sale, might
     9        inadvertently consume something containing a compound which
    10        triggers an adverse reaction.  That provides something
    11        very, very close to a blind-challenge, in the double-blind
    12        challenge.
    13
    14   Q.   Professor Walker characterised, when he accepted there was
    15        anecdotal evidence for hyperactivity allegations in most
    16        cases, he said it was anecdotal and, therefore, not
    17        satisfactory or not -- it was, in his categories, category
    18        3.  What I want you to do, as you go through them, if you
    19        agree there is evidence, anecdotal evidence, for example,
    20        Sunset Yellow, say whether you consider that is strong
    21        evidence of an association or that the evidence in that
    22        particular compound is particularly weak?
    23        A.  Well, as I have tried to indicate in my previous
    24        answer, some anecdotal evidence is quite strong and some
    25        anecdotal evidence is relatively weak, but I think the
    26        attitude of Professor Walker -----
    27
    28   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I am not sure it was actually an accurate
    29        summary of his attitude.  I do not think he ever said in
    30        terms "anecdotal evidence is not satisfactory."  He might
    31        have got to a topic and said "there is or may be anecdotal
    32        evidence of that, but I have not seen any satisfactory
    33        evidence of it", which is not necessarily to say that all
    34        anecdotal evidence is unsatisfactory.  Do you see the
    35        difference?
    36        A.  I do, indeed, and it is for Professor Walker to decide
    37        for himself how he wishes to characterise it.
    38
    39   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, may I interrupt, please?  I am only
    40        confirming what your Lordship says.  Your Lordship gave
    41        category (3) to Professor Walker as no satisfactory
    42        evidence.  I am on page 24 of that day's transcript.  When
    43        it came to Sunset Yellow, I asked a question:
    44
    45        "Hyperactivity: Do you know of any credible or satisfactory
    46        evidence that Sunset Yellow causes hyperactivity in
    47        children?
    48        A.  No, the only evidence that I am aware of is anecdotal.
    49        It has not been conducted in a properly controlled
    50        double-blind way." 
    51 
    52        When I came to Amaranth, I said: 
    53
    54        "Do you have any additional comment to make about the
    55        hyperactivity allegation in relation to Amaranth or is it
    56        the same as Sunset Yellow?
    57        A. It is the same as Sunset Yellow."
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It may be a matter of interpretation what he
    60        was saying.

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