Day 061 - 05 Dec 94 - Page 66


     
     1   Q.   Are you aware that it is quite a common practice, though,
     2        for companies that sell meat on that kind of scale to
     3        actually have ----
     4        A.  No, I do not even see ----
     5
     6   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  He has answered that question.
     7        A.  --- there was a great necessity for it.
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  He would not be surprised if it were so, but
    10        he did not know.
    11
    12   MR. MORRIS:  I do not know if you mention this in your
    13        statement, but there is a great long list of quality
    14        control checks, 40, which David Walker has appended to his
    15        statement.  You have no doubt seen that list, have you?
    16        A.  Yes.
    17
    18   Q.   You are absolutely confident they are actually carried out?
    19        A.  I have seen evidence that they are.
    20
    21   Q.   They are very detailed and complex inspections.  How can
    22        you be sure that the abattoirs that supply McKey's have the
    23        capability of doing them?
    24        A.  I personally cannot be sure and nor can anybody working
    25        for McDonald's.  David Walker's quality people can be sure
    26        and that is their function.  You need to be a meat expert
    27        to be sure.
    28
    29   Q.   "McDonald's specifications specifically excludes wet old
    30        cows, i.e. 8 to 9 year-olds." You have a cut-off point, do
    31        you, in your specification for the age of beef in
    32        abattoirs?
    33        A.  McKey would, yes.
    34
    35   Q.   Well, it says here in David Walker's statement, point 39,
    36        "McDonald's specification specifically excludes wet old
    37        cows, i.e. 8 to 9 year-olds."   That is on page 10 of his
    38        statement.
    39        A.  It does not say that in our specification.  It would
    40        say it in his to the supplier.
    41
    42   Q.   Why does he say it is McDonald's specification?
    43        A.  I do not know.  Mr. Walker has not been in court yet,
    44        has he?
    45
    46   Q.   No.
    47        A.  Well, maybe you should ask him.
    48
    49   Q.   So you do not specify that then?  You do not care what age
    50        the cows are that come through abattoirs? 
    51        A.  We do not specify the detail that he has gone into 
    52        there. 
    53
    54   Q.   Do you have any age specification for the supply of beef?
    55        A.  I believe there is.  I cannot tell you exactly.
    56        I thought it was younger than that to be honest.
    57
    58   Q.   So there is an age specification but you are not sure of
    59        the exact age?
    60        A.  I believe so.  I would need to look at it.

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