Day 092 - 27 Feb 95 - Page 23
1 MR. RAMPTON: I wonder if I can help? I have something here
2 which I think is the document. Once again, it really is
3 not helpful to question the witness on a selective basis.
4 One needs to look at the whole thing.
5
6 MS. STEEL: Can I look to see whether that is the same one?
7
8 MR. RAMPTON: I do not know if it is the same document or not.
9
10 MS. STEEL: No, it is not. It is not the same document.
11
12 MR. RAMPTON: This is -----
13
14 MS. STEEL: If you want to look at the page?
15
16 MR. RAMPTON: This is a document called Food Safety & Inspection
17 Services.
18
19 MR. MORRIS: That is the one we are looking at now.
20
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Let us press on now. If it is thought to be
22 important, we can track it down or make extra copies and
23 put them in the bundle somewhere. (To the witness): Are
24 there any regulations that you know of which govern the
25 question of pesticide residues ---
26 A. Oh, yes.
27
28 Q. -- in meat or anything else which is consumed by members of
29 the public?
30 A. Yes, there is the use of pesticides is highly regulated
31 in crops. There are regulations that specifically state
32 the type of pesticides to be used, when it can be used and
33 the crop, depending on the crop. There are what could be
34 called "withdrawal periods" where there is a time limit
35 that before you sell the product where you can sell it.
36 That is one exception to that regulation. If it is
37 properly applied, then it is not considered an adulterated
38 product on beef.
39
40 MS. STEEL: But the regulations that you are referring to, they
41 are talking about the type of chemicals you can use to
42 spray the crops and when you can use them?
43 A. And as well as the amounts.
44
45 Q. But there is no regulations about residues in meat?
46 A. There are some regulations in meat regarding pesticides
47 that are controlled by the United States Department of
48 Agriculture, the Food Safety Inspection Service. They do
49 test for pesticide residues in the slaughterhouses.
50
51 Q. But if they find them, it is not illegal?
52 A. No, it is not. There is -- no, no, it is not illegal.
53
54 Q. Are you aware of research by the National Research Council
55 of the National Academy of Sciences in pesticide residues?
56 A. That is a broad statement. What kind of research?
57
58 Q. Is it not right that the National Research Council found
59 that beef contained the highest concentration of herbicides
60 of any food sold in America?
