Day 003 - 30 Jun 94 - Page 14


     
     1   Q.   The Pentland Dell sounds like a British potato?
              A.  It is and the other one is too, having been brought
     2        here and approved through the British agricultural
              process.
     3
         Q.   It is an immigrant from America?
     4        A.  Yes, originally.
 
     5   Q.   Presumably, from Idaho?
              A.  I think so.
     6
         Q.   Skip the rest of that paragraph, please, Mr. Preston.  Let
     7        us go on down:  "Paying for the habit.  Chewing is
              essential for good health, as it promotes the flow of
     8        digestive juices which break down food and send nutrients
              into the blood.  McDonald's food is so lacking in bulk it
     9        is hardly possible to chew it."  I ignore that,
              Mr. Preston.  "Even their own figures show that a
    10         'quarter-pounder' is 48 per cent water".  Is water added
              to the Quarter Pounder?
    11        A.  No.
 
    12   Q.   Is flavouring added to the Quarter Pounder?
              A.  No.
    13
         Q.   Is anything added to the Quarter Pounder?
    14        A.  Absolutely nothing.
 
    15   Q.   So what is it made of, the Quarter Pounder?
              A.  One hundred per cent pure beef, no fillers, dyes,
    16        additives, preservatives of any kind.
 
    17   Q.   It goes on:  "This sort of fake food encourages
              over-eating, and the high sugar and sodium content can
    18        make people develop a kind of addiction - a 'craving'".
              Have you ever heard of that?
    19        A.  I have heard of the term "craving" but I do not know
              that I have ever heard of anyone addicted to Big Macs!
    20
         Q.   That might do the business a power of good if they were,
    21        might it not?
              A.  It might do.
    22
         Q.   Mr. Preston, this next sentence is more serious.  I am
    23        sorry, I will not make any facetious jokes about it.  It
              goes on:  "That means more profit for McDonald's, but
    24        constipation, clogged arteries and heart attacks for many
              customers."  Do you know, Mr. Preston, of any of your
    25        customers who have died of heart attacks as a consequence
              of eating your food? 
    26        A.  No. 
  
    27   Q.   If there were such evidence, Mr. Preston, would you be
              concerned about it?
    28        A.  We are continually concerned with our menu, its
              contents.  We have regularly over a time made adjustments
    29        to the formula, with the over-riding proviso being our
              customers.  We are very definitely a customer led
    30        organisation.  Our customers tell us:  "I like this
              taste.  I like this value."  If you make a change, be it

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