Day 024 - 15 Sep 94 - Page 33


     
     1        differently.  It may be said they make the same point, but
     2        there have clearly been separate different drafts in each
     3        State writing them.
     4
     5   THE WITNESS:  They are referring to the three letters, 127, 131
     6        and 133.
     7
     8   MR. MORRIS:  We read from Exhibit 7.  I believe it is identical
     9        to 131; I believe it is exactly the same document.
    10
    11   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  The point I am making, 131 is the same as
    12        Exhibit 7, just another photocopy.
    13
    14   THE WITNESS:  Yes.
    15
    16   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  But 127 and 133 are expressed differently to
    17        page 131, which is Exhibit 7.  That is the only point I am
    18        making
    19
    20   MR. MORRIS:  I am just reading out from Exhibit 7.  I will ask
    21        for your comments:  "Dear Mr. Rensi, The Attorneys General
    22        of Texas, California, and New York have concluded our
    23        joint review of McDonald's recent advertising campaign
    24        which claims that McDonald's food is nutritious.  Our
    25        mutual conclusion is that this advertising campaign is
    26        deceptive.  We therefore request that McDonald's
    27        immediately cease and desist further use of this
    28        advertising campaign.
    29
    30        The reason for this is simple:  McDonald's food is, as a
    31        whole, not nutritious.  The intent and result of the
    32        current campaign is to deceive consumers into believing
    33        the opposite.  Fast food customers often choose to go to
    34        McDonald's because it is inexpensive and convenient.  They
    35        should not be fooled into eating there because you have
    36        told them it is also nutritious.
    37
    38        McDonald's calculated move to promote its food as
    39        nutritious is a giant step backward from the gains made
    40        last summer when McDonald's, at the insistence of our
    41        three states and together with the other major fast food
    42        restaurants, agreed to provide booklets to its customers
    43        giving the nutrition facts on its food.
    44
    45        With these booklets, consumers can make their own
    46        decisions whether or not to eat at McDonald's -- and what
    47        to eat when they get there.
    48
    49        The new campaign appears intended to pull the wool over
    50        the public's eyes.  Let's consider a few of the specific 
    51        claims made in your ads. 
    52 
    53        1.  The ad discussing salt (sodium) content in foods says,
    54         'Our sodium is down across the menu.'" Emphasising it
    55        across the menu. "This is not true.  That same ad lists
    56        four products (regular fries, regular cheeseburger,
    57        6-piece McNuggetts, and vanilla milkshake) none of which
    58        have had their sodium content lowered in the past year.
    59
    60         2.  The ad touting the 'real' milk in McDonald's shakes

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