Day 297 - 08 Nov 96 - Page 36


     
     1
     2        Professor Crawford, whilst he was referring to a nutrition
     3        study of school children, said that he considered that the
     4        results of that study were disturbing because it suggested
     5        that children were responding to media pressures and that a
     6        disproportionate amount of their energy was coming from the
     7        sector of food groups which are the least nourishing.  That
     8        was on day 31, page 41.
     9
    10        He said he believed that the quantitative force of the
    11        large number of fast food outlets, obviously including
    12        McDonald's, is having an impact on the way people perceive
    13        and behave with regard to food.  That was day 31, page 43.
    14
    15        Dr. Lobstein referred to some figures, which I think are
    16        quite old, indicating that the figure spent on promotions
    17        and advertising by McDonald's in the UK had risen from
    18        about £2.5 million per annum in 1981/1982 to over £10
    19        million in 1986/1987.  He said that this gave rise to
    20        considerable concern at what appeared to be a massive rise
    21        in the prevalence of promotion and facilities for fast
    22        food.  That was on day 32, page 11.
    23
    24        Just on the point that we were on a moment ago, a Ministry
    25        of Agriculture Fisheries and Food survey which was referred
    26        to by Dr. Lobstein showed that half of the respondents
    27        would like more information about ingredients and the
    28        majority would like the information to come from food
    29        labels.  That was on day 32, page 30.
    30
    31        Dr. Lobstein considered that a company which offered, in
    32        its own words, a "nutritious" meal should take responsible
    33        for the quality of the nutrition provided.  That was on day
    34        32, page 34.  He believed that McDonald's were trying to
    35        promote the image of balanced meals made from nutritious
    36        ingredients.  That was day 32, page 35.
    37
    38        He referred to the paper from the British Nutrition
    39        Foundation and -----
    40
    41   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   From the?
    42
    43   MS. STEEL:   British Nutrition Foundation briefing paper and
    44        agreed that if pre-packaged and cooked products are used
    45        and relied upon for nutrition, the producer must accept a
    46        responsibility to ensure a nutritionally desirable balance
    47        in the meals.  That was day 32, page 36.
    48
    49        And just some simple changes which could be considered, for
    50        example, having chunkier chips which would decrease the
    51        amount of fat per portion.  He said that there was
    52        absolutely no indication that they were being considered
    53        and that was, you know, a simple thing that a company such
    54        as McDonald's could do.  That was on day 32, page 37.
    55
    56        Dr. Lobstein considered that it was misleading for
    57        McDonald's to say that they used basic products because
    58        they increased the fat, sugar and salt content by taking
    59        the so-called basic products and then the processes by
    60        which they prepared them and sold them.  That was on day

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