Day 094 - 01 Mar 95 - Page 22


     
     1
     2   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, I understand that.
     3
     4   THE WITNESS:  The part has:  "Industry officials say that as
     5        long as consumers"?
     6
     7   MS. STEEL:  "Industry executives and US DA officials point out
     8        that today less than" -----
     9        A.  OK, yes.
    10
    11   Q.   Would you accept that?
    12
    13   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think you should put again this.  Depending
    14        on how far you read on, there are a number of suggestions
    15        there.  Put specifically what you are asking him if he
    16        accepts.
    17
    18   MS. STEEL:  As far as "decades ago" for the moment?
    19        A.  That is possible, yes.
    20
    21   Q.   Would you accept the following sentence?
    22        A.  Yes, when it says "decades ago", that is correct.
    23
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You are asked whether you would accept that
    25        at least one third of ---
    26        A.  Yes.
    27
    28   Q.   -- chicken products are contaminated with Salmonella and
    29        other bacteria?
    30        A.  Yes.
    31
    32   MS. STEEL:  In terms of it being Salmonella and other bacteria,
    33        that would be true for Tysons as well?
    34        A.  That is correct, except that their numbers are lower,
    35        lower than 30 per cent.  The 30 per cent is an industry
    36        average.
    37
    38   Q.   It says "at least"?
    39        A.  It is an average.  There are a lot of reports that are
    40        documented that is about 30 per cent.
    41
    42   Q.   Would you agree with the comment, "it would cost far too
    43        much to produce cleaner chicken" which is attributed to
    44        industry officials?
    45        A.  That is correct.
    46
    47   Q.   Is that something that McDonald's feels?
    48        A.  Something that we have been looking for, yes.  Every
    49        single day we are looking for a better method.  The only
    50        method that we have found that would eliminate bacteria is 
    51        the radiation, but there is obviously some concerns from 
    52        the public that they would not accept the chicken, but we 
    53        are continuously looking for new ways.
    54
    55   Q.   What about less intensive methods of rearing?
    56        A.  That does not work.  You can find the same thing in
    57        free-range chickens, if not more.
    58
    59   Q.   If the chickens are kept in close confinement they are more
    60        likely to catch diseases off each other, are they not  ---

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