Day 094 - 01 Mar 95 - Page 57


     
     1        A.  Yes, they do.
     2
     3   Q.   You do not specify to them then which tests -- well, do you
     4        specify that they have to do some tests definitely and then
     5        others are optional?
     6        A.  We specify in the regulations that they have to meet
     7        regulations.  What we leave up to them is that you have to
     8        understand that the microorganisms are more prevalent or
     9        absent depending on the conditions and the environment.
    10        For us to specify every single condition that we might find
    11        a particular type of bacteria is practically impossible.
    12        We are not going to be testing for bacteria, we are
    13        required to test for bacteria that we know is present
    14        there.  So we let the suppliers decide because they are the
    15        experts in their own field, in their own area to decide
    16        what kind of testing should be done.  That type of testing
    17        should be done and will be approved in consultation with
    18        the Quality Assurance Department of McDonald's.
    19
    20   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  We will have our five-minute break there.
    21
    22                       (Short Adjournment).
    23
    24   MS. STEEL:  I want to clarify what you said before the break.
    25        So you would not test for bacteria, a particular type of
    26        bacteria if you did not think it was going to be present?
    27        A.  If we have enough evidence to believe it is not
    28        present, yes.
    29
    30   Q.   Well, what other evidence would you have to believe that it
    31        was not present?
    32        A.  What evidence?  There is a lot of research that is
    33        constantly being done in the different countries to
    34        identify the prevalent microbiological flora which will
    35        include the bacteria that might be of a potential hazard to
    36        human consumption.
    37
    38   Q.   Something like E.coli 0157: H would not be something that
    39        was particularly prevalent, but it still might be there?
    40        A.  At that particular time when it happened nobody knew it
    41        existed.  Therefore, we could not test for it.  Now we know
    42        it exists and we test for it.
    43
    44   Q.   Yes, but is that type of bacteria particularly prevalent?
    45        A.  No.  It is very small levels; very, very small levels.
    46
    47   Q.   So the position is you test for particular types of
    48        bacteria if you think they are likely to be there?
    49        A.  If we have enough evidence, we believe that we need to
    50        test for anything, make a scientific test, I mean 
    51        scientific sense, we will do so. 
    52 
    53   Q.   The Grand Island slaughterhouse, that is one of the ones
    54        that has been part of the experiment of the streamlined
    55        inspection system?
    56        A.  I am not sure.
    57
    58   Q.   You do not know?
    59        A.  No, I do not know.
    60

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