Day 291 - 31 Oct 96 - Page 40
1 meat industry the suffering of animals is inevitable" was
2 on day 78, page 63, line 53.
3
4 If I could just make a couple of points? Mr. Morris dealt
5 mainly with things that I was going to raise about the
6 policy, and I might as well just finish it off.
7
8 The reference on day 59, page 5, line 56, about the Animal
9 Welfare statement first being published two years ago, that
10 must have been -- I don't know whether it was 1994 or
11 1995. I can't remember when he gave evidence. I think it
12 was 1994. He claimed that the policy had existed verbally
13 before that time.
14
15 He also said, on day 159, page 6: "We published the animal
16 welfare policy in 1992. Before that, we did not have many
17 inquiries."
18
19 Mr. Walker, from McKey Foods, said, on day 80, page 40,
20 that he first saw McDonald's animal welfare policy last
21 year. He gave evidence in February 1995. So, the first he
22 saw of McDonald's animal welfare policy (which Mr. Oakley
23 claimed came in in 1992), Mr. Walker did not see it until
24 1994, which is somewhat surprising if what Mr. Oakley says
25 is true, seeing as Mr. Walker is his chief supplier.
26
27 MR JUSTICE BELL: Well, you made that point before. What you
28 say is, it is for the consumption of members of the public
29 rather than for the suppliers, for it to have some effect
30 on animal welfare.
31
32 MS. STEEL: Yes, that is right. With reference to that point,
33 I think it is worth noting in pink volume 9, tab 5, the
34 letter from McKeys Foods -----
35
36 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Give me that reference again.
37
38 MS. STEEL: Pink 9. It is the letter from McKeys. I mean, we
39 have not -----
40
41 MR JUSTICE BELL: You gave me a divider as well.
42
43 MS. STEEL: Tab 5. Sorry. We have not got the letter that was
44 sent out. It is dated 1st July 1991.
45
46 It says: "With reference to your inquiry to us concerning
47 the animal welfare issue, I of course have already sent you
48 a copy of the Bramble report for guidance." That was an
49 animal welfare report. It says: "In addition to this,
50 there is very little that I can actually state which will
51 help you from a PR point of view."
52
53 I think that really demonstrates what this is all about.
54 It is all about making a lot of noise and saying how much
55 they care about animals, when the reality is that they are
56 basically utterly indifferent; and even when suppliers are
57 carrying out things which are contrary to the Codes of
58 Practice and contrary to the claimed policy which
59 McDonald's now have, they are still not discontinuing the
60 suppliers.
