Day 297 - 08 Nov 96 - Page 39


     
     1        reference.
     2
     3   MS. STEEL:   I think it was that they should set the price so as
     4        to encourage people to eat, to choose those options, to
     5        choose the healthier options, but, I mean, I have not read
     6        it recently and I cannot remember.  (Pause)
     7
     8        The leaflet stated that to assist customers to eat healthy,
     9        McDonald's are "constantly making our menu more
    10        nutritious", and Dr. Lobstein said that this implied that
    11        they were making efforts, but they still had quite a way to
    12        go.  That was day 32, page 47.
    13
    14        And I think you interpreted the phrase "even more
    15        nutritious" as an averment that the food had been
    16        nutritious in the first place.  In other words, that
    17        McDonald's were at present saying that they were claiming
    18        that their food was good and nutritious.  That was day 32,
    19        page 49.
    20
    21        Obviously, that is what we argue, that McDonald's claim
    22        that their food is nutritious, and I think that they are
    23        hardly denying it anyway, but that is what the London
    24        Greenpeace fact sheet refers to as well.
    25
    26        Dr. Lobstein said that if McDonald's were claiming that
    27        their food was good and nutritious he would beg to differ.
    28        That was day 32, page 49.  And he said that it was not a
    29        very truthful way of expressing their view.
    30
    31        He referred to the situation in America and said that the
    32        level of advertising conducted there created statements
    33        that were misleading.  That was day 32, page 50.  And he
    34        expressed concern with that image.  That was day 32, page
    35        51.
    36
    37        Dr. Lobstein considered that McDonald's use of the phrase
    38        "nutritional value" was -- well, it was an ill-defined
    39        phrase which is no more than a public relations attempt.
    40        And professionals would not use that phrase, instead, they
    41        would, or they might, refer to nutrient density.  That was
    42        day 32, page 53.  I don't know whether we want the break.
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   I think we had better have one.  Five
    45        minutes.
    46
    47                         (Short Adjournment)
    48
    49   MS. STEEL:   Dr. Lobstein's view was that ingredients should be
    50        listed on the actual cartons and packages.  That was day
    51        32, page 53.  When he was being cross-examined by
    52        Mr. Rampton, Dr. Lobstein would not entirely accept that it
    53        is the frequency with which people consume unhealthy foods
    54        that matters, he believed that manufacturers still had a
    55        responsibility which increases with the greater the
    56        frequency eaten and the greater the promotion of the
    57        product.  That was day 32, page 57.  He agreed that in an
    58        unhealthy diet where a McDonald's is consumed once a week
    59        it made a proportionate risk to health.  That was day 32,
    60        page 74.

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