Day 101 - 10 Mar 95 - Page 19

     
     1        choice of where to get the lettuces from, would they?
     2
     3   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It is one of the more common forms of lettuce
     4        in the shops?
     5        A.  Yes, it is probably the most popular lettuce.  The
     6        major supermarkets prefer it.  I would say, estimating it
     7        is the most commonly grown lettuce now in the UK.
     8
     9   MR. MORRIS:  So does Howard Long International have dozens of
    10        suppliers?
    11        A.  They have a number of suppliers.  They have a
    12        department that looks after the procurement of the raw
    13        materials.  So, the actual product is contract grown
    14        specifically for McDonald's or Howard Long's for use for
    15        supplying McDonald's.
    16
    17   Q.   Do you know roughly how many suppliers they would have?
    18
    19   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have to ask you to get to the point of your
    20        cross-examination.  I am not saying it is an invalid line,
         but if you circle around every point you have got like
    22        this, we really are going to be here into the next
    23        millennium.  So, do try to help by just putting the thrust
    24        of your point.  If you do not like the answer, you can go
    25        back a bit and work on it a little.
    26
    27        Try to put a bit of a restriction on yourself, apart
    28        from -- just listen to me -- anything else, it would
    29        certainly help me, but it will also help you.  So, try to
    30        get to the point as quickly as you can.  We have complaints
    31        about not enough lettuce, we have complaints about the
    32        lettuce which we are getting, put what your complaint about
    33        that is.
    34
    35   MS. STEEL:   Have you ever had any of your lettuces analysed?
    36        A.  We rely on our suppliers to analyse our lettuce.  You
    37        mean specifically for pesticide residues?
    38
    39   Q.   Yes.
    40        A.  That is done by HLI, by Howard Long International.
    41
    42   Q.   They do that?
    43        A.  They do that, yes.
    44
    45   Q.   Do you get the results of that?
    46        A.  Yes, we do.
    47
    48   Q.   What are the results of that?
    49        A.  The results are they are all within the range limits.
    50 
    51   Q.   So there are pesticide residues on them, but they are lower 
    52        than what the regulations are? 
    53        A.  Yes, I believe so, yes.
    54
    55   Q.   Do you get a written report on that or is that just
    56        something they tell you?
    57        A.  The records are available for inspection.  I do not
    58        think we ask specifically for them to be sent in unless we
    59        actually want to see them.
    60