Day 100 - 09 Mar 95 - Page 51
1 Q. In fact, it is illegal in this country, is it not, to use
2 hormone treatment of animals?
3 A. I believe it is, yes.
4
5 Q. If it turns out that we may or may not call a witness from
6 the Consumers Association ----
7
8 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, I do not know of any such witness.
9
10 MR. MORRIS: No. I am just saying we may or may not.
11
12 MR. RAMPTON: No, I am afraid that will not do. What Mr. Morris
13 has done, so far as I am concerned because I have read the
14 piece, is to misrepresent its effect.
15
16 MR. MORRIS: Well, if it turns out -----
17
18 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Do not bother to say "if it turns out". Just
19 say if such and such were the situation, then ask him for a
20 reaction and then we will see if we have evidence as to
21 whether it is the situation in due course.
22
23 MR. MORRIS: If some hormones are, in effect, being illegally
24 used by cattle raisers ----
25
26 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Farmers.
27
28 MR. MORRIS: --- farmers, cattle farmers -- they are not
29 ranchers, are they, in England? -- in European countries,
30 what would your department do about this in terms of your
31 own supplies?
32 A. Is this a hypothetical question?
33
34 Q. It is partly hypothetical and it is partly based on -----
35
36 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What, if any, testing in your system do you
37 know of to discover whether meat which becomes McDonald's
38 beef patties contains or may contain hormonal residues
39 above natural levels?
40 A. That sort of testing is done at the abattoir, and it
41 would be done by the veterinary officers. I think it is
42 part of the EC requirements for an abattoir.
43
44 Q. If some meat were getting through (and it has not yet been
45 suggested that it is getting through your supply system)
46 which did contain hormonal residues above the natural
47 levels, you are being asked whether that would concern you?
48 A. Yes, it would concern me.
49
50 MR. MORRIS: Your area of expertise, you did answer Mr. Rampton
51 about that. You have various academic study and
52 qualifications. Could you just say where your area of
53 expertise extends to?
54 A. Well, educationally I have a degree in food science and
55 chemistry.
56
57 Q. So the effect of food on the human body, is that what that
58 means really?
59 A. No.
60
