Day 059 - 01 Dec 94 - Page 19

     
     1        read a transcript of the evidence of Mr. Peter Cox who was
     2        called as a witness on behalf of the Defendants?
     3        A.  Yes, I have.  I have read parts of his transcript, yes.
     4
     5   Q.   Let me ask you this:  Did you detect in his evidence any
     6        suggestion, first, that material of this kind was simply
     7        some kind of marketing or promotional ploy?
     8        A.  Yes, I did.
     9
    10   Q.   What comment do you have to make about that?
    11        A.  I think it is absolutely wrong; it is not a marketing
    12        or promotional ploy.  Nutritional information was given to
    13        our customers without legislation originally and is today
    14        for their help and guidance.  It has never meant to be a
    15        marketing or promotional ploy.
    16
    17   Q.   Did you detect in Mr. Cox's evidence any suggestion, not
    18        only that it was simply a marketing ploy, but that it was
    19        misleading, deceptive and unethical?  Did you see that in
    20        his evidence?
         A.  Misleading, yes.  As I said, I did not read the entire
    22        transcript.
    23
    24   Q.   I will put it directly.  Do you have any disquiet or
    25        anxiety that this sort of material which your company has
    26        been putting out since 1984 (and still does) might be
    27        misleading or deceptive?
    28        A.  Material that we are putting out?
    29
    30   Q.   Yes.
    31        A.  No.
    32
    33   Q.   This nutritional information?
    34        A.  No, not at all.  It is done voluntarily and it is done
    35        with good faith.
    36
    37   Q.   You have answered my next question, thank you.  The
    38        contents of the nutritional documents, I think you said
    39        they were still vetted.  Are they vetted now by Professor
    40        Wheelock?
         A.  By and large they are vetted by a Dr. Briany Thomas
    42        who, in fact, has vetted every document that we have ever
    43        issued.  She is the independent consultant that I referred
    44        to earlier.  I think you mentioned Dr. Juliet Gray ---
    45
    46   Q.   I did, yes.
    47        A. -- working in conjunction with Leatherhead Food RA, but
    48        she is in conjunction with Leatherhead.  Dr. Briany Thomas
    49        is completely independent.  She vets all of the information
    50        that goes into our nutritional leaflets. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Still does? 
    53        A.  Still does, yes.  Vernon Wheelock is not responsible
    54        for the information appearing in these leaflets.
    55
    56   Q.   I see.  What is his role?
    57        A.  His role is to provide nutritional guidance to
    58        McDonald's primarily on government legislation, documents
    59        like the Health of the Nation.
    60