Day 034 - 11 Oct 94 - Page 47
1 studies and experiments in animals provide convincing
2 evidence that increasing the intake of total fat increases
3 the incidence of cancer at certain sites, particularly the
4 breast and colon, and, conversely, that the risk is lower
5 with lower intakes of fat".
6
7 What is perhaps worth noting is that as long ago as twelve
8 years ago they would make a statement that the evidence at
9 that time was convincing, that increasing intake of fat
10 not "may" increase or "might" increase or "could", but
11 that it in fact, "increases the incidence of cancer at
12 certain sites, particularly the breast and colon, and,
13 conversely, that the risk is lower with lower intakes of
14 fat. Data from studies in animals suggest that when fat
15 intake is low, polyunsaturated fats are more effective
16 than saturated fats in enhancing tumorigenesis" which
17 simply means the beginning of tumour formation, "whereas
18 the data on humans do not permit a clear distinction to be
19 made between the effects of different components of fat",
20 which has been a matter of continuing research since that
21 time. Quoting again: "In general, however, the evidence
22 from epidemiological and laboratory studies is
23 consistent".
24
25 So that was back in 1982 based on the information already
26 available at that time. I think it was subsequent to this
27 that virtually all American scientists and policy makers
28 became quite convinced of the link and describes it in the
29 causal terms that were indicated in this document.
30
31 MR. MORRIS: Is that it on that one?
32 A. Yes, thank you.
33
34 Q. Just two more documents. If I read out something to you,
35 give me your opinion on this.
36
37 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What are you going to read?
38
39 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord -- it does not matter -- we have been
40 through this before; it will be one of McDonald's own
41 documents, I suspect.
42
43 MR. MORRIS: Thank you for that.
44
45 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I am not sure it is.
46
47 MR. MORRIS: I was going to say that Mr. Rampton was making a
48 very unhelpful comment because I wanted to read it to the
49 witness with an open mind so that he could judge. There
50 is not much point in doing it now really.
51
52 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Why not? That is for me to decide, is it
53 not? All I want to know is what it is. I mean, this case
54 is not going to hang on little twists and turns like
55 this.
56
57 MR. MORRIS: No, but I think that it is an important thing if
58 I want to cross-examine a witness that Mr. Rampton does
59 not try to influence the questions I am putting to him.
60 The reason that I wanted to do it without referring to
