Day 125 - 12 May 95 - Page 16
1 Q. So why have some health authorities banned it then?
2
3 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Do not answer that question because it is
4 purely a matter of judgment for one authority or another.
5 The only question is whether what McDonald's do is safe or
6 unsafe. Some people may be over-cautious, they may not.
7
8 THE WITNESS: My Lord, I would say -----
9
10 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Do not, please. If I suggest to someone that
11 they should not ask further questions, or that you should
12 not answer it. It does not help, Mr. Beavers, if you press
13 on.
14
15 MS. STEEL: People, who have made statements to give as
16 evidence in this court, have reported incidents of maggots
17 being found in shake machines when they are not cleaned out
18 overnight; when they come in in the morning they find
19 maggots in the shake machines. Is that something that has
20 been a problem in America, on occasions?
21 A. I am not aware of anything like that. I will tell you
22 this, that besides the sanitation practices that you see
23 outlined here, we have independent labs to visit our
24 restaurants from time to time and make unscheduled visits.
25
26 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What is being suggested here, you are being
27 asked whether you know of occasion where maggots have been
28 found in shake machines.
29 A. No.
30
31 MS. STEEL: On the next page, page 21, it does say: "Failure
32 to clean McDonald's shake machine daily will create
33 problems in terms of bacterial contamination". So,
34 although you may no have maggots, there are other problems?
35 A. There is a potential for problems if these procedures
36 are not followed. That is the reason for having a manual.
37 We want to be clear and upfront to all our personnel in the
38 restaurant, and let them know how our pieces of equipment
39 should be put together, cleaned and maintained, and, if
40 they do not do so, what the implications are, or what the
41 possibilities are if we do not.
42
43 MR. MORRIS: One question on that? The disassembling of
44 equipment, the ability to do that effectively; would you
45 say that was a pretty fundamental responsibility that you
46 take seriously?
47 A. It is something we take seriously, yes. I think
48 we -----
49
50 Q. Would you say it was fundamental to hygiene or bacterial
51 considerations?
52 A. The disassembly of the machine?
53
54 Q. Yes, the ability to do that properly?
55 A. Yes. It is important to do it correctly.
56
57 MS. STEEL: If you could turn to bundle page 81, internal page
58 475. This is in the personnel section. In the right-hand
59 column at the bottom the last paragraph:
60
