Day 016 - 22 Jul 94 - Page 71
1 nutritional composition of it. The birthday cake is not
something I would particularly pay much attention to
2 anyway, because the fact it is a speciality item and
people only come in and eat it once a year or so, so from
3 a nutritional point of view that is really of no
importance whatever. So we are concerned about regular
4 products that people come in and eat on a regular basis.
5 Q. Would you say the birthday cake is then, overall,
something that you would only eat as a treat because of
6 its large amount of completely unnecessary -----
7 MR. RAMPTON: No, he said it was for ---
8 MR. MORRIS: I am putting a question to him.
9 MR. RAMPTON: -- people who had a birthday once a year.
10 MR. MORRIS: The implication was it is not the sort of food you
want to eat regularly?
11 A. No. What I said was that because it is only likely to
be eaten once a year, the contribution that it would make
12 to a person's diet is negligible and, therefore, it is
nothing to worry about it.
13
Q. OK, because it is negligible, it is only once a year. You
14 are aware, are you not, the first ingredient in the list
is sugar? Do you normally make cakes when sugar is the
15 largest ingredient?
A. I do not normally make cakes even if it is the major
16 ingredient. As I have already stated, from a nutritional
point of view, this gives me no concern whatsoever.
17
Q. You said you do not advise McDonald's on the ingredients
18 but, surely, the ingredients go to the nutrients which is
what you define "nutrition" as meaning?
19 A. No. I look it at it from the point of view of the
final product and suggest changes that might be made. It
20 would then go into the system. People would consider it
in from a technological point of view, from a cost point
21 of view, from a taste point of view. If they come up with
an improvement, then that is fine.
22
Q. If we look further up that page at the bun, that is bread,
23 is it not?
A. Yes, it is.
24
Q. The bun, bleached wheat flour, water, sugar; that is the
25 second largest ingredient. Lard, salt, yeast, sesame
seeds, preservative, calcium propionate, emulsifiers,
26 various flour improvers, potassium bromate -- that is the
one which has been banned now?
27 A. Yes, again we have considered that already.
28 Q. This is 1989?
A. Yes, and, of course, the lard has been replaced.
29
Q. Right. But at that time, as a nutritionist, what would
30 have been your advice to McDonald's about their bread in
their basic sandwich which they sell to virtually all
