Day 059 - 01 Dec 94 - Page 25

     
     1        that is right, is it?
     2        A.  By and large, yes.
     3
     4   Q.   What I wanted to ask you is this:  How far does McDonald's
     5        review or consider its range of menu items?
     6        A.  Extensively.  I personally do not have responsibility
     7        for the product development department, but the purchasing
     8        department, for which I do have responsibility, would work
     9        in close liaison with them.  New products are under review
    10        constantly.
    11
    12   Q.   We have seen some American advertisements for, for example,
    13        pizzas.  Can one get pizzas in McDonald's in this country?
    14        A.  In around 60 restaurants in the UK.
    15
    16   Q.   What about salads?
    17        A.  Salads are currently in 131 restaurants.
    18
    19   Q.   Out of a total at the present day of roughly?
    20        A.  560.
    21
    22   Q.   560.  How long have you been providing salads in this
    23        country, do you know?
    24        A.  Three to four years.
    25
    26   Q.   Do you monitor customer response to these new -- new when
    27        they are introduced -- items?
    28        A.  Yes, we do.
    29
    30   Q.   Do you make changes from time to time in the composition of
    31        existing items such as, for example, fat content or salt
    32        content?
    33        A.  Yes, we do.
    34
    35   Q.   In which direction, so far as fat and salt are concerned,
    36        are you moving at the present time?
    37        A.  To lower levels of usage.
    38
    39   Q.   There was a time when the shortening which is used for
    40        frying the fries was made of a mixture of vegetable oil and
         beef tallow?
    42        A.  Yes, there was.
    43
    44   Q.   When did that stop, can you remember?
    45        A.  Two years ago.
    46
    47   Q.   What is it made of now?
    48        A.  100 per cent rapeseed oil which is a vegetable oil.
    49
    50   Q.   Is it hydrogenated? 
    51        A.  It is hydrogenated, yes. 
    52 
    53   Q.   What are the reasons why you review these items in this
    54        way, for example, reducing the fat or salt content?
    55        A.  I think the COMA Report, the Health of the Nation
    56        Report triggered a lots of thought in terms of fat
    57        reduction.  However, this was happening prior to the Health
    58        of the Nation Report specifically in the area of sandwich
    59        sources and salad dressings, lard that is used in buns, for
    60        example.