Day 246 - 09 May 96 - Page 20


     
     1        my note.  You differed from Mr. Preston, but Mr. Preston
     2        was saying that effectively it was the same leaflet.  You
     3        disagree with that, and I may have to decide whether you
     4        are right or Mr. Preston is right.  But Mr. Preston was
     5        saying, although you say to him it is not the leaflet, he
     6        was saying, well it is to all intents and purposes the
     7        same.  That was his evidence.  The effect of his evidence.
     8
     9   MS. STEEL:   I think he did accept it was different but he
    10        thought that there were sufficient similarities or
    11        something to make it comparable, I cannot remember exactly
    12        what he said.
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  This leaflet or something similar.
    15
    16   MS. STEEL:   Sorry?  This leaflet or something similar?
    17
    18   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
    19
    20   MS. STEEL:   Right.  I have put the point to the witness.
    21
    22   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
    23
    24   MS. STEEL:   When in the next paragraph you say, "McDonald's is
    25        an honest company which exists to serve the customer to
    26        make profit for our shareholders and to contribute to the
    27        communities which we serve, London Greenpeace have
    28        consistently tried to undermine our business through their
    29        activities and we are determined to put a stop it",
    30        McDonald's, you are aware, and I think it is has been
    31        admitted in the case, have been reprimanded by the
    32        Advertising Standards Authority for publishing false and
    33        misleading information in their advertisements?
    34        A.  Well, I am not sure I was here on the day.  I will have
    35        to...   If you can show me where, I suppose it is not
    36        impossible.  It may very well have submitted an ad to the
    37        authorities for approval as the advertising rules apply.
    38
    39   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Back in early in July of 1994 Ms. Steel or
    40        Mr. Morris asked you about an Advertising Standards
    41        Authority ruling that in describing packaging as recyclable
    42        you had, in their view, misled the public because you were
    43        not actually recycling it yourselves?
    44        A.  Yes.
    45
    46   Q.   And that may be one of the criticisms.  I have had some
    47        evidence of some of the rulings of authorities critical of
    48        items of McDonald's advertising.  I am just refreshing
    49        people's memory of what was put to them, and then filling
    50        you in in the most summary form, of some of the evidence 
    51        I have heard since July of 1994. 
    52 
    53   MS. STEEL:   Just to refresh your memory, Mr. Preston, you were
    54        also taken to task over an advertisement which appeared in
    55        several national newspapers saying that there were very few
    56        chemicals in your food, and in particular in milkshakes.
    57        I do not know whether you remember that?
    58        A.  I do not remember the case, but it could very well have
    59        been, yes.
    60

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