Day 005 - 04 Jul 94 - Page 20
1 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Can I just make a suggestion? If you want
to refer someone to a document, then give the reference
2 (which you have done in this case by saying it is the
leaflet complained of), identify in some way of
3 description which parts you are in (which you have done by
saying under the heading "What is so unhealthy about
4 McDonald's food)", and then identify the particular part
you want to ask a question about.
5
Do not be embarrassed about reading it out. That will,
6 obviously, take a view seconds to do, but at least you are
sure that both you and the witness and I are looking at
7 the bit you want us to look at.
8 MISS STEEL: OK, thank you. The part I am looking at is:
"What they don't make clear is that a diet high in fat,
9 sugar, animal products and salt (sodium), and low in
fibre, vitamins and minerals - which describes an average
10 McDonald's meal - is linked with cancers of the breast and
bowel, and heart disease". As I was saying, I think you
11 said the description given there, in your opinion, does
not adequately or accurately describe an average
12 McDonald's meal?
A. I do not remember saying that, but if you say I did,
13 we can look at the ----
14 Q. It is all right. Do you think that adequately or
accurately describes a McDonald's meal?
15 A. There is comments about vitamins and minerals.
I absolutely do not accept that McDonald's does not bring
16 vitamins and minerals into someone's diet. I absolutely
feel as though the opposite is true. It does provide
17 vitamins and minerals.
18 Q. It does not say "no vitamins or minerals", to be fair,
though, does it?
19 A. It says "low in fibre, vitamins and minerals - which
describes an average McDonald's meal - is linked with
20 cancers of the breast and bowel, and heart disease".
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What you are being asked is whether you
accept that an average McDonald's meal would be high in
22 fat, sugar, animal products and salt and low in fibre,
vitamins and minerals?
23 A. I do not think that is true, compared to the average
typical British meal. I think it compares very favourably
24 with what is served typically throughout the land. In
fact, in the one booklet we referred to earlier, this one,
25 we go to great pains to say just that, Sir.
26 MISS STEEL: Without making comparisons though, would you say
that the average McDonald's meal is high in fat?
27 A. No, I do not.
28 Q. You do not think it is?
A. No. I think it complies as part of a balanced diet
29 very comfortably with the rules that the government
people, health people, have put down for consumption.
30
Q. It complies with those rules?
