Day 055 - 25 Nov 94 - Page 30

     
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     2   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  I think that is the best way to do it,
     3        because I can see for myself what the differences are.
     4        Later, you can draw my attention to the ones which you
     5        think are important.
     6
     7   MR. MORRIS:  What about point (d) on page 3, where it says, a
     8        third of the way down that paragraph about "generalised
     9        claims":
    10
    11        ".....are not acceptable unless supported by sound medical
    12        evidence and will, where appropriate, be assessed by
    13        reference to the concept of balanced diet"?
    14        A.  Yes.
    15
    16   Q.   What does that mean to you?
    17        A.  What that means to me, that if a particular food that
    18        describes itself as "healthy" or "full of goodness" in a
    19        very generalised way, that if the food fell into one of
    20        those food categories for which consumption is being
         recommended to be reduced, with reference to a balanced
    22        diet, then that claim would not be likely to be acceptable;
    23        that is the way that I would interpret that.
    24
    25   Q.   So, for example, at the bottom of the page where it says:
    26
    27        "The AAC considered this suggestion but decided that it
    28        would be more conducive to the objectives of the Health of
    29        the Nation programme for those advertising in a position to
    30        do so to be able to draw attention to the contribution
    31        their products could make to a healthy diet."
    32
    33        So, for example, what would McDonald's foods be as a
    34        contribution?  Would they be a positive or negative
    35        contribution to healthy diet, in your opinion?
    36        A.  Is that a nutrition question?
    37
    38   Q.   How would you interpret that in relating to McDonald's
    39        foods?  Say, for example, it was found that McDonald's food
    40        were high in fat and sugar and salt?
         A.  Yes.
    42
    43   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is that a question you want to answer or not?
    44        A.  I am happy to.  I just felt it was probably
    45        inappropriate for me to comment on whether McDonald's food
    46        was nutritionally good or bad.
    47
    48   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That is why I thought you hesitated.
    49
    50   MR. MORRIS:  If it was found that McDonald's food was high in 
    51        fat, sugar and salt it, and it was felt that those 
    52        particular nutritional ingredients were the sort of things 
    53        that should be eaten less of, in a particular diet today,
    54        would that affect that last statement I read out?  What
    55        contribution would it be making to the diet, to a healthy
    56        diet?
    57        A.  In relation to claims -- I think in relation to this
    58        particular rule, then it should not be acceptable for such
    59        products to make positive, generalised health claims.
    60