Day 059 - 01 Dec 94 - Page 09

     
     1        out these inspections?
     2        A.  Quite the opposite.  Much to the chagrin of some of the
     3        suppliers, Barbara Crawford personally is a stickler for
     4        animal welfare.  If she were to find during a visit (and
     5        she has on occasion found that, for example, chickens were
     6        not being stunned effectively at Sun Valley) she would
     7        certainly cut down that production line and have it stopped
     8        there and then until the situation was corrected, and would
     9        not allow the line to restart until it was corrected.  She
    10        really does enforce this animal welfare law.
    11
    12   Q.   Can I ask you about two particular things, then I will move
    13        on to another topic altogether, if I may, Mr. Oakley?  The
    14        first is on page 1; against the third blob or circle it
    15        says:  "McDonald's will not accept beef originating from
    16        cattle subjected to growth promoters or hormone
    17        treatment".  That, presumably, is within the area for which
    18        you are responsible ---
    19        A.  Yes.
    20
    Q.   -- in the UK and Eire.  Do you know of any objection, any
    22        reason why, growth promoters or hormone treatment should
    23        not be used?
    24        A.  Not anything I can scientifically prove, no.
    25
    26   Q.   What is the reason why McDonald's will not accept cattle
    27        who have had growth promoters or hormone treatment?
    28        A.  I think because there is a reasonable doubt that beef
    29        raised from the use of hormone or growth promoters could --
    30        and I only say "could" -- cause a problem.  We do not know
    31        that for a fact, but if there is any element of doubt in
    32        this whole issue, we would rather not purchase the cattle
    33        raised with growth promoters or hormone treatment.
    34
    35   Q.   Are there any substances, so far as you are aware, which
    36        may be given to animals as part of their veterinary
    37        treatment which might be regarded as growth promoters or
    38        hormone treatment?
    39        A.  Yes, I think in the early stages of controlling
    40        diseases in animals, there are substances which could be
         construed as being a growth promoter or hormone treatment.
    42        They are administered purely to control diseases.  They
    43        should not be administered later in the animal's life.  It
    44        is when they are that they are classed as growth promoters.
    45
    46   Q.   Can you tell us the name of any of those substances used
    47        that way?
    48        A.  The only one I can say I am really familiar with is
    49        Clenbuterol.
    50 
    51   Q.   Which is what, what sort of a thing is it? 
    52        A.  It is disease controller; it is also known as "Angel 
    53        Dust".
    54
    55   Q.   Why is that?
    56        A.  I am not really sure, but that is the common name for
    57        Clenbuterol.  I think in some countries the use of
    58        Clenbuterol as a growth promoter has been a problem,
    59        notably in Belgium.  We do not have any real evidence in
    60        this country that it has ever been a problem.