Day 032 - 06 Oct 94 - Page 55
1
2 MR. MORRIS: I only brought it up because I did not know what
3 role it played.
4
5 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I do not think with all the information we
6 have, it will advance matters very much.
7
8 MR. MORRIS: (To the witness): Some final questions: You said
9 before that fast food prevalence is on the rise; is that
10 correct?
11 A. That is my understanding, yes.
12
13 Q. There have been some recent developments, for instance,
14 McDonald's have opened up canteens in or restaurants in
15 hospitals and, I believe, they also in common with other
16 fast food companies have promotions in schools?
17 A. Yes.
18
19 Q. In fact, in America, I believe, they actually have
20 branches in schools. Would you like to comment on that?
21 A. Well, clearly, it has been of concern to see this
22 development, that we have noted that various health
23 workers in health districts have been upset to find their
24 health authority is negotiating with fast food companies
25 such as McDonald's -- usually it is McDonald's -- to
26 provide catering services in a hospital usually for
27 visitors.
28
29 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Is it patients or visitors?
30 A. Visitors rather than patients, and in schools the
31 promotion tends to take a different form. My
32 understanding is that they would offer vouchers to go to a
33 local McDonald's in return for certain school
34 accomplishments. So they are indeed promoting themselves
35 both to the young and also as a healthy or having the aura
36 of health around them, by being accepted by Area Health
37 Authorities as providing catering.
38
39 Q. What do you mean by "school accomplishments"?
40 A. It could be a team of accomplishments.
41
42 Q. What does "accomplishment" mean?
43 A. Winning at sports or providing certain activities.
44 I am not aware of the details of these promotions, only
45 that such vouchers are being offered.
46
47 MR. MORRIS: To go to even younger children. Have you any view
48 about the use of provision of toys as part of the meals at
49 McDonald's?
50 A. Well, again these are used to induce and to encourage
51 children to pester their parents to persuade them to go to
52 that particular fast food outlet, possibly to replace
53 eating in with eating out as well, but that is more
54 arguable. I think when it comes to things like birthday
55 parties as well you are, in fact, looking at the provision
56 of entertainment of which food is an incidental part.
57 Children are being attracted to fast food stores now for
58 their entertainment value as much as for their food and
59 nutritional value.
60
