Day 246 - 09 May 96 - Page 48


     
     1        by the Government, I am sure would be familiar with that
     2        document and its contents.  I would be very surprised if
     3        they did not read it, if they did not digest it, and
     4        incorporate that which it says into our programmes.
     5
     6        I find many, many times with these recommendations of
     7        committees that what McDonald's already does goes far
     8        beyond what they recommend, so I think doing what they
     9        necessarily recommend may in fact be a retrograde step and
    10        we would be very cautious about saying "that is what we
    11        do", because we often at times go far beyond what they say.
    12
    13   Q.   So in as much as they are not less than what you are doing,
    14        generally you would take their advice and go further?
    15        A.  Our people would have looked at what is in there and
    16        made decisions accordingly, yes.
    17
    18   Q.   Are you aware that this Advisory Committee on the
    19        Microbiological Safety of Food has recommended -- and
    20        I will read out a couple of recommendations -- "We endorse
    21        the Chief Medical Officer's advice that burgers should be
    22        cooked until the juices run clear and there are no pink
    23        bits inside.  This advice should be reconsidered when
    24        results of research recommended into the relationship
    25        between the formulation and colour of cooked mince meat
    26        products, the colour of juices, and the temperature
    27        achieved in the survival of BTEC (which is E.Coli 0157) are
    28        available.
    29
    30        We endorse the Government's advice to cooked minced beef
    31        and minced beef products, including beef burgers, to a
    32        minimum internal temperature of 70 degrees Centigrade 2
    33        minutes or equivalent.
    34
    35        This advice should be reviewed when the results of the
    36        relevant research mentioned in R6/10 above are known.
    37
    38        We recommend that industries should ensure that the cooking
    39        instructions supplied with beef burgers should be capable
    40        of achieving an internal temperature of 70 degrees
    41        Centigrade for 2 minutes or equivalent so that the burgers
    42        juices run clear and there are no pink bits inside."
    43
    44        Were you aware of those recommendations?
    45        A.  I am aware of the internal temperature one, the 70
    46        degree.
    47
    48   Q.   And you are happy with those recommendations?
    49        A.  I think we exceed them.  I think we go a little hotter
    50        than that. 
    51 
    52   Q.   You would be happy to accept these as a minimum then? 
    53        A.  I think it is a recommendation and, without reading the
    54        whole document, it is difficult to take bits and pieces of
    55        it in isolation.  I would really have to, either myself
    56        with help or through a professional, ask them to redigest
    57        it and, quite frankly, explain it to my simple mind.  I am
    58        not scientific, I am afraid.
    59
    60   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I really think you have got to be a bit wary

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