Day 059 - 01 Dec 94 - Page 10

     
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     2   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is there any established watershed as to age
     3        of the animal before which it could be said to control
     4        disease, but not promote growth, but after which it would
     5        be promoting growth rather than controlling disease?
     6        A.  I am not an expert in this area, my Lord, but I would
     7        say it is generally accepted that controlling diseases
     8        takes place in the first six months of the animal's life.
     9
    10   MR. RAMPTON:  Before we leave that page, page 1 of tab 1 of this
    11        file, Mr. Oakley, we notice in the second paragraph that
    12        there is a reference to a hygienic environment, do you see
    13        that, "clean, safe, hygienic environment"?
    14        A.  Yes.
    15
    16   Q.   I think you mentioned earlier, and there is a reference to
    17        hygiene also in the third one up from the bottom.  Who in
    18        your organisation in McDonald's is the person that is
    19        responsible for ensuring that the meat which is used for
    20        your products is free from what one might call
         contamination or pathogens, matters of that kind?
    22        A.  The main responsibility for this is, in fact, the
    23        supplier and McKey and McKey Quality Control people would
    24        have the main responsibility for ensuring that the product
    25        is safe and raised and slaughtered in hygienic conditions.
    26        The McDonald's Quality Assurance Department again would
    27        work in conjunction with the supplier on these matters, but
    28        they are not experts in that area -- the suppliers are.
    29
    30   Q.   There was, as I am sure you remember, an outbreak of food
    31        poisoning attributed to McDonald's restaurant in Preston in
    32        Lancashire in early 1991; do you remember that?
    33        A.  I do, yes.
    34
    35   Q.   This may again seem to you a silly question, is that
    36        something which McDonald's might wish to prevent a
    37        recurrence of?
    38        A.  Oh, absolutely, yes.
    39
    40   Q.   Please turn over then -- this is my last question about
         animals for the moment at least -- to page 3 of this
    42        section where you see "Eggs - Oasters"?
    43        A.  Yes.
    44
    45   Q.   Just above the middle of the page.  The eggs used for
    46        McDonald's products are not free range, are they?
    47        A.  No, they are not.
    48
    49   Q.   They are battery eggs, are they not?
    50        A.  They are battery eggs, yes. 
    51 
    52   Q.   The Defendants criticise McDonald's on that ground because 
    53        the hens in the battery cages do not have access to fresh
    54        air or natural light.  Are you conscious of that?
    55        A.  Yes, I am.
    56
    57   Q.   Have you thought about the arguments in favour of switching
    58        your source of supply of eggs from battery hens to free
    59        range or barn housed hens?
    60        A.  Yes, I have.  We have thought about this.  We have