Day 044 - 02 Nov 94 - Page 21

     
     1   Q.   "....and scientists and health professionals can work
     2        together to encourage Americans to make healthy food
     3        choices and to achieve national health goals."
     4
     5        Do you think that is desirable?
     6        A.  It certainly seems like a statement that is a good
     7        statement.
     8
     9   Q.   Yes.  Would the McDonald's Corporation, do you think, take
    10        that kind of approach?
    11        A.  Again, since I am not in the product development
    12        area----
    13
    14   Q.   No, but you are in change of promotions?
    15        A.  That is correct.
    16
    17   Q.   And this one specifically talks about "working together to
    18        encourage Americans to make healthy food choices and to
    19        achieve national health goals".  So you have just said that
    20        promotion has an important part; certainly you are the
         largest marketer in this area in the States.  So would you
    22        say your department would adopt that approach as
    23        recommended by the Assistant Secretary for Health?
    24        A.  In my opinion, I do not believe that he is talking
    25        about specifically my department, but -----
    26
    27   Q.   No.  He is talking about how people encourage people to
    28        make healthy food choices.  Does your department encourage
    29        people to make healthy food choices?
    30        A.  I think that we provide -- we, as a company, as
    31        I understand it, because it is not in my department --
    32        information to people in our restaurants as to the content
    33        of our food and the nutritional value of our food.
    34
    35   Q.   But does your department-----
    36        A.  Thereby, I think, giving those people who wish to have
    37        that information that information, and promoting that
    38        information.
    39
    40   Q.   Does your department encourage people to make healthy food
         choices -- your department?
    42        A.  Again, within the context of the discussion, when we
    43        are talking about the nutritional value of our food, we are
    44        encouraging them to read the materials that McDonald's
    45        makes available.
    46
    47   Q.   But, in general, your department and its massive
    48        advertising budget, is part of your philosophy, part of
    49        your job description, to "encourage healthy food choices"?
    50        A.  I do not believe I said that. 
    51 
    52   Q.   It is not----- 
    53        A.  You are asking about this particular quote?
    54
    55   Q.   Yes.  So would you say, then, that is not the job of your
    56        department, to encourage healthy food choices?
    57        A.  In the main, it is not; it is to promote the menu from
    58        a market perspective.
    59
    60   Q.   Right.  So when McDonald's says it cares about the public