Day 266 - 20 Jun 96 - Page 24
1 is the Government wanting to promote healthy diet? I think
2 Government wants to promote healthy diet because it is a
3 good health in itself, but also because I think it would
4 save the NHS considerable amounts of money if you had a
5 healthier population. So, in terms of having a healthier
6 population I think that it would be very large numbers,
7 that there is a real risk.
8
9 Q. Just a final question. McDonald's in their leaflets
10 promote their food as a useful nutritious part of any
11 diet. Do you have any comment to make upon whether or not
12 you would agree with that or a statement saying that every
13 time you eat at McDonald's you would be eating good
14 nutritious food? Would you have any comment on such a
15 statement?
16 A. The main comment I would have about that, I think it
17 could mislead people. I think in promoting healthy eating
18 there are lots of factors which prevent the information
19 getting through to people clearly, and one of those factors
20 is just getting people to change anything is quite hard.
21 Also, there are a number of people saying the opposite
22 thing and the people saying the opposite thing tend to be
23 the industries, the food industries, the companies that
24 want to promote particular foods. So I think the statement
25 is misleading because it makes people think that it is OK
26 to eat whatever you like because the experts all disagree
27 with each other anyway.
28
29 It is adding to that view, and it is my job, as it is
30 the job of people involved in health promotion and the
31 Health Service and the Department of Health to try and get
32 clear messages across to people. I think when a diet that
33 is obviously high in fat, high in salt and low in fibre and
34 low in vitamins and minerals, and all the other things we
35 have been talking about, then I think it misleads people to
36 say it is a nutritious part of the diet, because then it
37 gives people the impression that it is OK to have a
38 McDonald's every day and I think that is misleading to the
39 public.
40
41 Q. I have no further questions. If you would wait there.
42
43 Cross-examined by Mr. Rampton
44
45 MR. RAMPTON: I do not think Mr. Morris has.
46
47 MR. MORRIS: No.
48
49 MR. RAMPTON: What are the minerals in which McDonald's food is
50 deficient?
51 A. I would look at vitamins.
52
53 Q. No, I asked minerals. You said minerals a moment ago.
54 What are the minerals in McDonald's food is deficient?
55 A. Let us go back. I do not eat in McDonald's myself. I
56 will have to go back to the actual diet, if you will give
57 me a moment to go back to the diet.
58
59 Q. Sure.
60 A. And if you want me to specify exactly what meal
