Day 101 - 10 Mar 95 - Page 18

     
     1        keep up-to-date with reports, major reports, into potential
     2        quality of food that your customers might eat?
     3        A.  I try to keep abreast of what is happening within the
     4        food industry and such, if that is what you are asking.
     5
     6   Q.   Are you aware of a government survey last October into
     7        pesticides in lettuces, a government survey, the Ministry
     8        of Agriculture?
     9        A.  I do not know if I am aware of the specific document
    10        you have in front of you.
    11
    12   Q.   I have a press report.
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Why not put to him the conclusion which you
    15        suggest is -----
    16
    17   MR. RAMPTON:  Mr. Morris' problem is that he does not have the
    18        report.
    19
    20   MR. MORRIS:  It is not a problem for me.
    21
    22   MR. RAMPTON:  He does a problem.  It has a newspaper article
    23        about it.
    24
    25   MR. MORRIS:  I am going to put it to the witness.
    26        (To the witness):  Are you aware that a warning letter was
    27        sent by the Ministry of Agriculture to more than 500
    28        growers, and the Health & Safety Executive is to make
    29        unannounced visits to farms to stop contaminated lettuces
    30        reaching the shops.  Do you know about that?
    31        A.  I am not aware of letters.  I am aware that the
    32        Ministry keep close tabs on the use of pesticides and the
    33        control of pesticides.  Sprayers, for instance, have to be
    34        licensed by MAFF to spray pesticides.  So, of course, they
    35        keep a close eye and control on it.
    36
    37   Q.   Do you look into that kind of thing as a Quality Assurance
    38        Department, about whether chemicals or pesticides are
    39        ending up on your product?
    40        A.  Yes, we do.
    41
    42   Q.   You would be concerned if they were?
    43        A.  We would be concerned if illegal levels of residues
    44        were in our products -- of course we would.
    45
    46   Q.   The lettuces which you take, say, from this country,
    47        iceberg lettuce, is it?
    48        A.  Yes.
    49
    50   Q.   Is it grown all over the country or is it one place where 
    51        it is grown? 
    52        A.  No, it is grown in different parts of the country. 
    53
    54   Q.   I do not know much about the lettuce production in this
    55        country, but is that a fairly standard lettuce?
    56
    57   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  We know what iceberg lettuce is, do we not?
    58        May be you do not.
    59
    60   MR. MORRIS:  But what I am saying, Howard Long, would have ample