Day 069 - 19 Dec 94 - Page 19


     
     1        batch of McNuggetts or chicken sandwiches were found to
     2        have been unfrozen or partially defrosted because of a
     3        fault in the refrigeration system, what would happen to
     4        that consignment?
     5        A.  To the product?
     6
     7   Q.   Yes.
     8        A.  The product will show some definite signs of
     9        temperature abuse.  When you cook it, that product, it will
    10        turn red, as opposed to yellow.  The product is dry; the
    11        cover when it is frozen is dry.  When it is temperature
    12        abused, it will pick up some water, if you do not follow
    13        the conditions; and it is just a physical process.  You
    14        know, hot air will hold water.  Cold air will be very dry.
    15        You can see that in Chicago; you can see the humidity in
    16        the rainforests.  Our products are very, very cold at that
    17        temperature, are very, very dry, because all of the
    18        moisture is frozen.  If you temperature abuse it, it will
    19        pick up that moisture.  When you cook it, that moisture
    20        will be released in the oil.  It is pure physics:  when
    21        something releases, something has to go in, and it goes to
    22        the oil.  There is more oil that goes in contact with the
    23        chicken and will burn our cover, our Nuggetts.  So, any
    24        temperature abused product, you will see that at the
    25        restaurant immediately.
    26
    27   Q.   I was going to what the McDonald's people would do with the
    28        product if they got a consignment of temperature abused
    29        Chicken McNuggetts?
    30        A.  We will not sell it.  We will notify Tyson and the
    31        distribution centres and they will follow up.
    32
    33   Q.   Then finally with these -- I think it is finally -- on page
    34        16 is the ninth of these customers' complaint sheets.
    35        These were some Tyson chicken patties from Roger, Arkansas
    36         -- I think you have already told us -- not one of the
    37        plants that supplies you.  Are these pre-cooked or are they
    38        raw products, the Tyson chicken patties?
    39        A.  They are raw.
    40
    41   Q.   So the same product then, are they, as on page 12?
    42        A.  It is a similar product, yes.
    43
    44   Q.   A similar product.
    45        A.  Different formula.
    46
    47   Q.   This was not, apparently, an alleged case of food
    48        poisoning; this was simply that there were only three,
    49        instead of the declared four, patties in the box.  Do you
    50        see that? 
    51        A.  Yes, I do. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Again, do you know enough about Tysons' procedures to know
    54        how that could have happened, if it did?
    55        A.  Yes, I do.
    56
    57   Q.   Can you tell us?
    58        A.  The packaging equipment that is used at Tyson, it is
    59        automatic.  With that automation process, there are scales
    60        throughout the packaging area.  Those scales will reject a

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