Day 298 - 11 Nov 96 - Page 30


     
     1        between 67 and 77 percent of visits to fast food outlets
     2        were made by people who visited it at least once a week.
     3        And the reference for that was, I think, day -- I think it
     4        was the first time Mr. Fairgrieve gave evidence, on page
     5        55, line 8.  He said that the figure ----
     6
     7   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you actually have the day or just that it
     8        was the first time he came?
     9
    10   MS. STEEL:   I think it the first time he gave evidence, which
    11        I think I said this morning was day 28.  But he said the
    12        figure that appears in the 1994 first quarter of 67 percent
    13        under the column "heavy users", he said that it meant 67
    14        percent of visits to fast food outlets were made by people
    15        who visited at least once a week, which really goes along
    16        with his statement that the people who were eating at
    17        McDonald's on a regular basis were also eating at other
    18        fast food outlets.
    19
    20   MR. MORRIS:   Just a bit of tidying up now.  We have nearly
    21        finished.  Just on the subject of frequency of visits, I
    22        don't know if Helen mentioned, but 67 percent of McDonald's
    23        workers in this country are eating there four or more times
    24        a week, according to the survey.
    25
    26        Some other points regarding Professor Keene.  I have not
    27        got the references for this, but he estimated five percent
    28        of western populations affected by diabetes and that
    29        obesity was shown to be clearly linked with an increased
    30        risk of diabetes.  This is the diabetes we are concerned
    31        about here, that is linked to diet.  He said "The link
    32        between the obesity and diabetes development, i.e., causal
    33        link, is universally accepted."
    34
    35        He accepted the World Health Organisation's view that
    36        dietary factors are now known to be associated with the
    37        development of a wide range of chronic diseases.  That is
    38        the conclusion of the WHO report we looked at, which
    39        includes heart disease, hypertension, cancer and diabetes.
    40        His view of the WHO report was that they "represent state
    41        of the art and the state of scientific opinion, so they are
    42        regarded with considerable respect."  Concluded by him, of
    43        course.  I don't think there is any further need to comment
    44        on his evidence.
    45
    46        There was a quote from Mr. Oakley which had been missed
    47        out.  We have not got a reference for it.  But he did say
    48        that reducing salt and sugar content was "a responsible
    49        thing to do" in regards to McDonald's own food products as
    50        it would be "healthier for the customers".  So here is
    51        another recognition, if any was needed, that the company is
    52        quite aware the food can be characterised, individual
    53        products can be characterised, as healthy, unhealthy,
    54        healthier or less healthy, whatever, and that they are
    55        trying to make their products more healthy by reducing the
    56        ingredients, obviously, that are the problem, such as fat,
    57        salt and sugar.  But, as we have heard, that is very
    58        superficial, what they had done, but at least it was a
    59        recognition of our case, we would say.
    60

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