Day 099 - 08 Mar 95 - Page 57


     
     1        I believe, relating to that incident.
     2
     3   Q.   It appears to have happened in 1988.  What is your view
     4        about the probability of a three inch long live worm being
     5        found in lettuce in one of your restaurants?
     6        A.  Well, there are a number of reasons why I find it
     7        highly suspicious; the main one really is the fact it was
     8        reported to have been alive.  If it had, in fact, come in
     9        with the lettuce, our lettuce arrives in the restaurant
    10        preshredded and at that time vacuum packed.  If there was a
    11        worm in the lettuce it would have suffocated in the vacuum
    12        packing and it would not have been alive.
    13
    14   Q.   It might have been shredded before it was suffocated?
    15        A.  That is why the other dubious aspect is the fact that
    16        it was intact and 3 inches long.  It must have been -- it
    17        would have been very fortunate to survive the shredding
    18        process in one piece.
    19
    20   Q.   Before being suffocated.
    21        A.  Sorry, and there is additionally a washing process in
    22        the production of the lettuce as well.
    23
    24   Q.   I was going to ask you that.  First of all, who washes the
    25        lettuce?
    26        A.  It is washed at the production facility.
    27
    28   Q.   Who are your suppliers of lettuce and other vegetables?
    29        A.  Currently, we only have one supplier which is Howard
    30        Long International.
    31
    32   Q.   Where are they based?
    33        A.  In Norfolk.
    34
    35   Q.   What do they wash their lettuce with?
    36        A.  They wash it with chlorinated water.
    37
    38   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  These systems prevailed in 1988, did they?
    39        A.  In 1988 there were two produce suppliers, one of which
    40        is now called Howard Long.  They had a different name then.
    41
    42   Q.   But the shredding, vacuum packing and washing in the
    43        production procedure, did they ---
    44        A.  Yes, exactly the same.
    45
    46   Q.   -- in 1988, the same?
    47        A.  Yes, we do not vacuum pack now.  We actually pack
    48        slightly differently.  We do not put a vacuum on the pack,
    49        but in those days we used to vacuum pack.
    50 
    51   MR. RAMPTON:  It is still shredded? 
    52        A.  It is still shredded and washed. 
    53
    54   Q.   Assuming for a moment that Mr. Shaun Lynch was not a
    55        fraudster and that he did actually find a live worm in his
    56        salad three inches long; what ways are there -- it would
    57        have to be after the lettuce was unpacked, if you are
    58        right, and unpacked in the restaurant -- what opportunities
    59        are there for three inch live worms to get into the salad
    60        in a restaurant?

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