Day 010 - 11 Jul 94 - Page 61


     
     1        experience.  One of the issues with information is that
              much information is in dispute; it is not settled as to
     2        what is true and that information is not quite as
              important as how it is used.
     3
         Q.   Sorry, will you explain that?
     4        A.  With regard to the question specifically, you have
              asked me if it is necessary to present balanced and fair
     5        information in order to effect public policy, and the
              central point that I would make in response to your
     6        question is that it is a matter of how much time and
              energy that you have to carry all the baggage of all sides
     7        concerned.
 
     8        Now, there are some organisations that may represent the
              food packaging or foam packaging industries.  They would
     9        promote certain information, and there are organisations
              that represent the paper packaging industry and they would
    10        present certain information.  There are organisations that
              represent local community groups and they would present
    11        that information.  And, in a general sense, that
              information becomes part of what is played out in the
    12        court of public opinion.  That is, in essence, my answer.
 
    13   Q.   So your function then -- have I got it right -- it is not
              a function I am sure anybody in court would dream of
    14        criticising, your function is to present the alternative
              point of view: When the plastics industry or the paper
    15        industry says X, you say, yes, but you have to remember
              there is also Y; is that how it works?
    16        A.  I think that is fair.
 
    17   Q.   When you were talking a moment ago in answer to Mr. Morris
              about the reusables versus disposables argument, you did
    18        not mention the matter of customer health hygiene, did
              you?
    19        A.  I referred to the studies that I am aware of that
              raise the issue that foam or disposable packaging is more
    20        hygienic because it contains lower amounts, lower counts
              of certain types of colonies of organisms, I suppose.
    21
         Q.   Pathogenic organisms?
    22        A.  Right.
 
    23   Q.   Have you read the Fairfax County Study 1989?
              A.  I have not.
    24
         Q.   Does it matter that, according to that study (which is
    25        nothing to do with McDonald's; it was a municipal study),
              disposables in terms of bacterial colonies, are something 
    26        like 400 times safer than reusables?  Does that matter? 
              A.  I think that it is an issue. 
    27
         Q.   It is important people do not die of food poisoning just
    28        as it is important that they do not get damaged by
              styrene?
    29        A.  I certainly agree with that.
 
    30   Q.   Have you in considering the question of recycle -----
 

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