Day 032 - 06 Oct 94 - Page 45


     
     1        note that McDonald's has been making some changes to the
     2        specification to the composition of its foods.  Without
     3        going into those details (which we have had at other times
     4        in the case) could you elaborate on your comments that you
     5        made?
     6        A.  Yes.  I mean, the evidence that we have been given
     7        from Verner Wheelock that I was responding to outlined
     8        several ways in which McDonald's had improved their
     9        formulations and their practices towards what they hoped
    10        would meet a healthier diet.  It is my belief that this is
    11        largely in response to reports such as what you call the
    12        Grey Book and other previous reports, World Health
    13        Organisation and other encouragement from both government
    14        and from the consumer to provide better foods, healthier
    15        foods or, at least, to appear to be providing them.
    16
    17   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is that a criticism though?
    18        A.  Well, it is to say, perhaps, they are consumer led or
    19        government voice and consumer voice led in their change of
    20        marketing plans.
    21
    22   MR. MORRIS:  I mean, their concern about healthy eating and
    23        criticism of fastfood or whatever, has that been going on
    24        for a long time, decades?
    25        A.  Yes.  I am sure you are aware there have been articles
    26        in the media and elsewhere criticising both the
    27        environmental and the nutritional impact of increasing
    28        consumptions of fastfoods, particularly in America where
    29        these things appear to have started, for 20 or 30 years
    30        there has been this sort of argument.
    31
    32        I would say it came to a peak during the 80s,
    33        particularly, at about the time of the leaflet in question
    34        in this case, with television programmes with concerns
    35        over children's diet with reports from the first the NACNE
    36        Committee and then the World Health Organisation on what
    37        is a healthy diet and so on.  I would say this was very
    38        much a key focus of the mid-80s.  I would say McDonald's
    39        responded after that with the beginnings of changes to
    40        their formulations.
    41
    42   Q.   If it was to be ascertained that their diet was still high
    43        in fat, sodium and sugar and low in fibre and essential
    44        minerals, vitamins, would the changes that they had made
    45        be considered to be of significance to change your view of
    46        what you have expressed already?
    47        A.  Well, I would argue that they might be sufficient in
    48        that there were possible other factors.  For example, the
    49        pricing of certain -- some of the new foods they are
    50        introducing such as salads and so on might well be priced 
    51        disadvantageously, thereby not encouraging people to 
    52        consume them.  So there were pricing as well as access and 
    53        promotion questions to be asked in whether sufficient
    54        attention has been given to encourage a healthier diet.
    55
    56   Q.   I do not know if you know this, but it has been said that
    57        salad is not a standard menu item; it is available in some
    58        stores but not others.  Would that indicate anything to
    59        you?
    60        A.  That access has not been made available to all

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