Day 037 - 14 Oct 94 - Page 28
1 again and again, what we would be reading here, "That is
2 why it is impossible to say that one day's food intake is
3 impossible in isolation is better than another, one week's
4 food intake in isolation, one year's food intake"; you
5 know, how far do you go? It is a tremendous get out.
6
7 Q. That has been gone over in great detail.
8 A. Let me just mention in passing the next paragraph: "A
9 McDonald's menu offers a wide choice". It does not. It
10 does not at all. The items available are highly
11 restricted, generally very high-in-fat, very low in
12 important nutrients. I have already made reference to
13 leafy green vegetables and fruit. That is untrue.
14
15 But from the choice available the implication is that it
16 is possible to choose very healthy items. It creates a
17 misleading, utterly misleading impression.
18
19 Q. On the other side of that page it says, on this subject of
20 fat: "Nutritionists advise that we should in particular
21 keep an eye on how much fat". Is that what nutritionists
22 advise, that people should keep an eye on how much fat,
23 sugar and salt we eat?
24 A. I am sure you will find a nutritionist who will say
25 that somewhere, but they are probably employed by
26 McDonald's. The fact is that we should do rather more
27 than keep an eye on the fat we consume. We should jolly
28 well do something about it.
29
30 Q. In what direction?
31 A. Reduce it, of course, with particular reference to
32 saturated fat in the diet.
33
34 Q. What about below that heading: "Where does McDonald's fit
35 in? We are not claiming that McDonald's provides every
36 single nutrient you need for a healthy diet, but it can
37 certainly play a very valuable part"?
38 A. They present no evidence there for that very
39 questionable assumption other than implying previously --
40 this is why I say it is something of a bonanza in terms of
41 misleading copyrighting -- because previously they say,
42 the previous column half way down: "The best way to make
43 sure you are eating a good variety is to select foods from
44 these main food groups; the McDonald's group: Cereal,
45 meat, dairy, vegetable and oils". It is not. You know,
46 to assume that oils and fats, sweets and chocolates are
47 themselves a group which you should eat from in terms of
48 variety is outrageous. This is the bible of healthy
49 eating according to McDonald's, and it is just plain
50 wrong.
51
52 Q. On the other side of the page, of that particular page, at
53 the bottom it says: "McDonald's menu contains ingredients
54 from all the food groups. All good to eat, as well as
55 being good news if you want to stay healthy". Are they
56 promoting their food as healthy food in itself, do you
57 think?
58 A. It is obvious they are trying to do that. They are
59 trying to cloak themselves in the guard of healthy
60 eating. This is nothing more than unethical marketing.
