Day 002 - 29 Jun 94 - Page 11
1 Sixty per cent of the company's breeding units are
outdoors. Some of the privately owned breeding units are
2 also outdoors". Therefore, at least, 40 per cent of pigs
are kept indoors.
3
To go on to the slaughtering aspect: In another case
4 where McDonald's took action to stifle criticism of the
way animals were treated that were used in McDonald's
5 products, they instructed their solicitors to write to the
Bournemouth Advertiser to demand an apology and correction
6 for an article which appeared in the Bournemouth
Advertiser on 12th October 1989.
7
I would refer to the letter dated 2nd February 1990 which
8 is document No. 8 in volume 9, section C. I will read
part of that letter.
9
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
10
MISS STEEL: Have you found the page?
11
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
12
MISS STEEL: I will read the second and third paragraphs:
13
"Our clients have drawn to our attention an article which
14 appeared in your newspaper on 12th October 1989 under the
heading 'Demo Beef over Cattle' by David Wraith. The
15 allegations of inhumane slaughter which you have printed
have no basis in fact as regards our clients. You
16 published the remarks of Malcolm Benn citing a
consultant's report. Not only is such a quotation
17 obviously highly selective, but it also in no way
establishes that McDonald's approved the captive bolt
18 method cited. The article clearly implies that McDonald's
can be associated with this or other similar..." -----
19
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Take your time. There is no need to hurry
20 as you speak. Go back to "not only is such a quotation".
21 MISS STEEL: "... but it also in no way establishes that
McDonald's have proved the captive bolt method cited."
22 This letter resulted in the newspaper offering to make an
apology in the following terms -- I will refer to document
23 9 on page 2 -- on 12th October 1989 under the heading
"Demo beef over cattle":
24
"We refer to a proposed protest at the Poole branch of
25 McDonald's to mark World Food Day. A consultant's report
was quoted which described failures with captive bolt
26 methods used to pre-stun cattle. McDonald's Restaurants
Limited have asked us to point out that they do not
27 approve of the captive bolt method and are highly
concerned with ethical issues using humane ways of killing
28 cattle to ensure that the meat is safe to health".
29 However, McDonald's were not satisfied with this apology.
They demanded the addition of a further sentence. That
30 sentence was: "We are glad to help McDonald's put the
record straight". The sentence was duly added. The
