Day 266 - 20 Jun 96 - Page 24


     
     1        is the Government wanting to promote healthy diet?  I think
     2        Government wants to promote healthy diet because it is a
     3        good health in itself, but also because I think it would
     4        save the NHS considerable amounts of money if you had a
     5        healthier population.  So, in terms of having a healthier
     6        population I think that it would be very large numbers,
     7        that there is a real risk.
     8
     9   Q.   Just a final question.  McDonald's in their leaflets
    10        promote their food as a useful nutritious part of any
    11        diet.  Do you have any comment to make upon whether or not
    12        you would agree with that or a statement saying that every
    13        time you eat at McDonald's you would be eating good
    14        nutritious food?  Would you have any comment on such a
    15        statement?
    16        A.  The main comment I would have about that, I think it
    17        could mislead people.  I think in promoting healthy eating
    18        there are lots of factors which prevent the information
    19        getting through to people clearly, and one of those factors
    20        is just getting people to change anything is quite hard.
    21        Also, there are a number of people saying the opposite
    22        thing and the people saying the opposite thing tend to be
    23        the industries, the food industries, the companies that
    24        want to promote particular foods.  So I think the statement
    25        is misleading because it makes people think that it is OK
    26        to eat whatever you like because the experts all disagree
    27        with each other anyway.
    28
    29             It is adding to that view, and it is my job, as it is
    30        the job of people involved in health promotion and the
    31        Health Service and the Department of Health to try and get
    32        clear messages across to people.  I think when a diet that
    33        is obviously high in fat, high in salt and low in fibre and
    34        low in vitamins and minerals, and all the other things we
    35        have been talking about, then I think it misleads people to
    36        say it is a nutritious part of the diet, because then it
    37        gives people the impression that it is OK to have a
    38        McDonald's every day and I think that is misleading to the
    39        public.
    40
    41   Q.   I have no further questions.  If you would wait there.
    42
    43                    Cross-examined by Mr. Rampton
    44
    45   MR. RAMPTON:  I do not think Mr. Morris has.
    46
    47   MR. MORRIS:   No.
    48
    49   MR. RAMPTON:  What are the minerals in which McDonald's food is
    50        deficient?
    51        A.   I would look at vitamins.
    52 
    53   Q.   No, I asked minerals.  You said minerals a moment ago.
    54        What are the minerals in McDonald's food is deficient?
    55        A.   Let us go back.  I do not eat in McDonald's myself.  I
    56        will have to go back to the actual diet, if you will give
    57        me a moment to go back to the diet.
    58
    59   Q.   Sure.
    60        A.  And if you want me to specify exactly what meal

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