Day 094 - 01 Mar 95 - Page 27


     
     1        A.  That is correct.
     2
     3   MR. MORRIS:  It used to be much greater numbers than that, did
     4        it not, in the 80s?
     5        A.  That is correct.
     6
     7   Q.   Do you happen to know, was it much larger, was it 10 times
     8        as many in the 80s?
     9        A.  Oh, not in the 80s.  It is difficult to go year after
    10        year.  The beef industry is very cyclical.  It will depend
    11        on the offer and the demand.  There are years in which we
    12        are forced to use more slaughterhouses or abattoirs because
    13        there is not enough supplied so we have to go -----
    14
    15   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think all Mr. Morris is asking if you pick
    16        the 80s what do you think highest number of suppliers there
    17        might have been, in so far as you with four years
    18        experience can help us on it?
    19        A.  Probably 120, 100 to 120.
    20
    21   MR. MORRIS:  We have a statement of George Rummel, do you know
    22        George Rummel ---
    23        A.  Yes, I do.
    24
    25   Q.   -- from McDonald's Corporation.  I will just read out a
    26        section of his statement:  "In 1982 approximately 47 people
    27        mostly in Michigan an Oregon, not all of whom had eaten at
    28        McDonald's, were found to be infected with a previously
    29        unknown strain of E. coli.  The Centre for Disease Control
    30        formed a statistical analysis of the outbreak and concluded
    31        its research inferred numerical correlation between the
    32        outbreak and McDonald's.  McDonald's paid the medical bills
    33        and related claims of these individuals as a means of
    34        settling the matter to everyone's satisfaction.  There was
    35        never admission of liability on McDonald's part".  You are
    36        aware that McDonald's was responsible for this outbreak of
    37        disease, yes?
    38        A.  You have just read ------
    39
    40   Q.   In 1982?
    41        A.  You have just read the statement that it was never
    42        proven to be direct responsibility.  We never accepted
    43        responsibility.  It was never proven by a fact that we were
    44        responsible for that.  There was enough concern that we --
    45        you just read the statement.
    46
    47   Q.   Yes, but you are now the International Meat and Quality and
    48        Purchasing, Manager or Director, sorry?
    49        A.  Excuse me?
    50 
    51   Q.   I am not exactly sure of your official position, I am 
    52        sorry? 
    53        A.  Manager.
    54
    55   Q.   So, have you read the official investigation into that
    56        E.coli ---
    57        A.  No, I have not.
    58
    59   Q.   -- outbreak.  You have not?
    60        A.  No.

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