Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 30
1 Q. Sorry, tab 47. It is the letter from Elizabeth Densmore of
2 the McDonald's Corporation, Manager of Community and
3 Consumer Issues, to Mr. Graham Hooper in Middlesex,
4 July 26th 1982. This was the year before. In the middle
5 of that letter, second paragraph, it says: "McDonald's has
6 a long-standing policy of buying all of our products from
7 suppliers in the host country where we are doing business.
8 This policy is designed to increase the financial stability
9 of the host country and to assure ensure the freshest and
10 highest quality products. As a result, we can assure you
11 that the only Brazilian beef used by McDonald's is that
12 purchased by the six stores located in Brazil itself."
13 But you were not aware of that policy?
14 A. No.
15
16 Q. As far as you were concerned, you were not transgressing
17 any policy when you were organising this?
18 A. No, it was legal beef available within the EEC. It was
19 balance sheet beef and Brazil has traditionally supplied
20 beef and canned goods to this country.
21
22 Q. Around this time were you aware that McDonald's were
23 preparing legal action against the BBC for a nature
24 programme?
25 A. No.
26
27 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Had the words "rainforest" ever crossed your
28 mind in relation to your business and work?
29 A. Before 1983?
30
31 Q. Before 1983.
32 A. No, sir.
33
34 Q. In fact, before 17th May 1983?
35 A. No, sir.
36
37 Q. The day before then.
38
39 MR. MORRIS: Have you got pink XVI up there? I am sorry,
40 I think there are two files that both have similar
41 documents in. If you go to No. 3 in that file, it is a
42 letter to the BBC from McDonald's solicitors. Is that one
43 you have, to Robin Heller, Natural History unit of the BBC?
44 A. Yes.
45
46 Q. If you note on the second page we have the dispute with
47 Prince Philip brought to the attention the BBC. "This came
48 to our clients' attention as a result of a comment made to
49 George Cohon, the President of McDonald's Restaurants,
50 Canada, Limited, by the President of the World Wildlife
51 Fund, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh. Following
52 that comment, our clients brought to Mr. Mayer's attention
53 the fact that neither the US nor the Canadian companies nor
54 any other McDonald's company has used or does use meat
55 which comes from cattle reared in former rainforest
56 areas". Apart from the fact whether that is true or false,
57 were you asked to supply information about the sources of
58 your beef during the preparation of this letter?
59 A. No.
60
