Day 243 - 02 May 96 - Page 19
1 as disposables versus reusables is still a matter of active
2 debate. Conclusions from studies do not provide final
3 universal answers, and they may simply reflect the bias of
4 the sponsor. Very detailed and apparently scientific
5 studies often obscure the issues, which can be simplified
6 by taking a more local, low use approach".
7
8 Then at the beginning of 18:
9
10 "In my opinion, using reusable containers is always
11 preferable to throwaways". Do you agree that there is room
12 for an opposite and perfectly respectable opinion that, on
13 the contrary, from many points of view, it is better to use
14 disposables?
15 A. I do not believe that there is room for that. I think
16 what I was trying to explain in (17) is that you, companies
17 with the resources would use disposables, finance very
18 major studies which contain some good elements, but they
19 look like to the outsider an objective, scientific process;
20 but in fact what I have said in (14) is that within the
21 field they are not regarded as an objective, scientific
22 process. Therefore, they do not really give that
23 respectability.
24
25 What we have to come back to is a much more local approach
26 which I mentioned, you know, the simpler things for
27 everybody to measure that they can see they are improving,
28 and there are established ways of improving, are the reuse
29 systems. That is one of the reasons why I think those are
30 the best.
31
32 Q. You have left out of this -- I am not blaming you because
33 you are not a food scientist or a micro biologist, as I
34 understand it, is that right ---
35 A. That is correct, yes.
36
37 Q. -- you have left out of the equation any consideration of
38 food hygiene, have you not?
39 A. I believe that this is being addressed, but I would
40 point to the successful examples of reuse systems which
41 have, you know, which are being established in Germany.
42 I know of football matches and open air festivals which are
43 using reusable plastic cups which have got, you know, they
44 are washed in dishwashers. There are excellent options
45 available. I am sure they deal with the hygiene. I am
46 sure the German Hygiene Regulations are no different from
47 this country.
48
49 Q. You may be prepared to make that assumption, I might even
50 too, but you do not know that as a fact, do you? That is
51 not an aspect of the matter you have investigated as an
52 expert, is it?
53 A. I know that there are established systems which must
54 overcome hygiene. I mean, without sort of asserting that
55 the hygiene regulations in other places are much worse than
56 here, I doubt it.
57
58 Q. If you are to ensure food hygiene -- perhaps you do not
59 know the answer to this -- am I right that you have to use
60 high temperatures for the water?
