Day 123 - 09 May 95 - Page 43
1 evidence" -- I will emphasise what I think are the key
2 words --"considerable amount of evidence suggest that many
3 of diseases which are more common in the western affluent
4 world, diseases such obesity, diabetes, high blood
5 pressure, heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer
6 are related to diet." Do you have any problem with that?
7 A. Do I have a problem with that?
8
9 Q. With any of that?
10 A. I would like to say that I would like to see the
11 studies. I have certainly heard that in the news, yes, but
12 I have not reviewed any studies or looked at any
13 conclusions.
14
15 Q. If this was in a leaflet about McDonald's food, would you
16 have any problems with what it says there?
17 A. Yes, I would.
18
19 Q. Why is that?
20 A. Because, you know, I do not think that in reading that
21 you could conclude that our food is -- one could conclude
22 that our food is unhealthy in reading that, and that is not
23 the case.
24
25 Q. The next sentence says: "The typical western diet is
26 relatively low in dietary fibre (roughage) and high in fat
27 salt and sugar", you do not have any problem with that
28 sentence, do you?
29 A. Yes, I have problem with that.
30
31 Q. Why?
32 A. Well, I think anything consumed in excess could be
33 harmful, and to use that statement in the general context
34 of McDonald's I think is again an unfair characterisation,
35 or an unfair association with our menu.
36
37 Q. I will read the next sentence: "Many countries have
38 therefore" -- note the "therefore" -- published dietary
39 guidelines. General recommendations concerning diet which
40 are aimed at the whole population in order to prevent" --
41 I underline "prevent" -- "these diseases and to promote
42 good health". Do you have any problem with that?
43 A. We publish booklets, nutrition booklets. They are
44 available to our consumers, so they can make informed
45 choices from our menu. Again, you know, I make the point,
46 (I made the point earlier) an informed public is really
47 going to be our best consumer. So I certainly would
48 support the publication of nutritional guidelines and
49 what-not, in the sense it would help consumers, would be a
50 guide to consumers, but to have all of that verbiage, you
51 know, used in the context with McDonald's I think is just
52 unfair, and really a miss statement.
53
54 Q. Do you have any problem as a McDonald's representative, or
55 even as a lay person, with the word "prevent" being used?
56 I will read that again: "Many countries have therefore
57 published dietary guidelines, general recommendations
58 concerning diet, which are aimed at the whole population,
59 in order to prevent these diseases which we name above"
60 which included obesity and cancer, high blood pressure and
