Day 037 - 14 Oct 94 - Page 29


     
     1        It is a phrase I return to time and time again.  It is
     2        misleading and unethical, and frankly it is dangerous for
     3        consumers.  I am sure it has misled many people.
     4
     5   Q.   On the other page, which is the first page:  "What we put
     6        into our food", in the right-hand column it says:  "So
     7        whatever you choose to eat at McDonald's you can always be
     8        sure of great taste, nutritional value and quality"?
     9        A.  Yes.
    10
    11   Q.   Is that correct?
    12        A.  It is an outrageous claim; they could not substantiate
    13        it, but it is good copyrighting.  I say that, I am afraid,
    14        with a rather cynical tone in my voice.
    15
    16   Q.   The next document is, I think, No. 9, McDonald's Nutrition
    17        Guide?
    18        A.  Yes.
    19
    20   Q.   From July 1985.
    21        A.  Yes.  I make the same criticism there about saturated
    22        fat.
    23
    24   Q.   Let everyone get hold of a copy of it first.  At a glance
    25         -- just hold on a second, it seems to be very similar in
    26        the text to the last one, in which case I will not need to
    27        ask you about it.  Sorry, you make the point it does not
    28        have any column for saturated fat?
    29        A.  No, that is right.  But they do actually claim --
    30        excuse me -- halfway the other page, they say: "A glance
    31        at the chart will tell you what is in a McDonald's menu
    32        item."
    33
    34   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have not found that.  This is tab 9, where
    35        does it say "A glance at the chart will" ----?
    36        A.  The page that begins:  "What we put into our food",
    37        second column:  "Check for yourself"; underneath there it
    38        says:  "A glance at the chart will tell what is in a
    39        McDonald's menu item".  More weazel words, I am afraid.
    40        It is true up to a point.
    41
    42   Q.   Can you explain to me again what "weazel words" mean in
    43        your terminology?  I am acquainted with what "deceptive"
    44        might mean, but what does "weazel words" add to
    45        "deceptive"?
    46        A.  It adds a pertainer; it adds a gloss; while saying one
    47        thing it very often --- implying one thing, it actually
    48        says something else.
    49
    50   Q.   Illustrate that with regard to this, how it works here? 
    51        I understand "A glance at the chart will tell you what is 
    52        in a McDonald's menu item", and we look at the chart and 
    53        it does not tell us how much saturated fat; I understand
    54        that.
    55        A.  Literally speaking, that sentence is correct; it does
    56        tell you.  However, what is ----
    57
    58   MR. MORRIS:  While we are on that subject, it does not point
    59        out the fibre content, does it?
    60        A.  No.

Prev Next Index