Day 068 - 16 Dec 94 - Page 47


     
     1        take the allegations when they came out in the 1980s?
     2        A.  Oh, very seriously.  We did a lot of research.  We have
     3        to explore every possibility to make sure that we get the
     4        facts.  It is our intention (it has always been) to go
     5        after the facts, and then manage the situation.  Whatever
     6        the result, we are going to take action, when those
     7        accusations have been made, when our reputation is at
     8        stake, when our specifications could be, or potentially, or
     9        have been violated.  We took it very, very seriously.
    10
    11   MR. MORRIS:   Was there some kind of special research done
    12        immediately after the "Jungle Burger" film was made or the
    13        allegations were made in the mid-80s, when you made public
    14        statements at the time -----
    15
    16   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I really think, you know, for someone who
    17        started in 1991 ---
    18
    19   MR. MORRIS:  I understand that.
    20
    21   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  -- you have really to ask yourself how
    22        productive it is going to be to ask him about it.
    23
    24   MR. MORRIS:  All right then.
    25
    26        (To the witness):  What evidence have you seen that in the
    27        1980s, the mid-1980's, or something, the company did do
    28        research that meant that they could say the things that
    29        they have said since?  Do you see what I am saying?  What
    30        have you seen, apart from statements from the supplier
    31        saying, "We do not do it", or whatever?  What research did
    32        the company do, itself, to check?
    33        A.  Let me start by saying I have talked about this issue
    34        extensively.  I heard about it when I was not even with
    35        McDonald's.  It was an immediate curiosity, when I was
    36        going to be involved in that company, to look for what had
    37        happened.  I had found a lot of evidence from video tapes
    38        where they show our facilities.  I have seen evidence where
    39        I had contacted and I have talked to people who were
    40        involved, or who were very closely associated with them.
    41        I have seen signed documents saying that we do not; in
    42        particular in the case of Coope Montecillos, they have
    43        never done that.
    44
    45        I have talked to Arturo Wolf, whose father was involved and
    46        is shown in the video.  Arturo Wolf went to the same school
    47        that I went to at Texas, A & M.  He was currently, at that
    48        time, and I know that he was at that particular facility in
    49        Fort Worth, where he was working there.  I have seen
    50        evidence that that particular facility only supplies to 
    51        hospitals and special institutions, and that kind of thing. 
    52 
    53   Q.   But in terms of the company taking it seriously in
    54        Costa Rica, McDonald's taking it seriously, have you seen,
    55        for example, independent research done by the company to
    56        verify the sources?  Just say "no" if you have not?
    57        A.  I am thinking.  If you let me think for a minute, I
    58        will give you a better answer.  I have not seen documents.
    59        I do recall conversations where we know we have worked with
    60        people that are ecologists, with people that were in the

Prev Next Index