Day 079 - 27 Jan 95 - Page 03

     
     1        many.
     2
     3   Q.   You do not know how many?
     4        A.  No.
     5
     6   Q.   Then it was after the outbreak of food poisoning in Preston
     7        that you introduced testing of all the consignments?
     8        A.  Yes, that is correct.
     9
    10   Q.   Was that the same test or was that a different test?
    11        A.  That was a new test, a test which had been developed by
    12        Camden Research.
    13
    14   Q.   Who, presumably, thought it was more effective?
    15        A.  Yes, well, Dr. Jeff Banks is the world authority on
    16        E.coli.
    17
    18   Q.   You have mentioned Jeff Banks, you mentioned it when you
    19        were giving evidence-in-chief, and the Jack-in-the-Box
    20        problem; can you just explain briefly what that was about?
    21        A.  In the United States of America there was an outbreak
    22        of E.coli 0157: H in a restaurant chain called
    23        Jack-in-the-Box and, to my knowledge, Dr. Jeff Banks was
    24        called to the United States of America to assist in their
    25        enquiries.
    26
    27   Q.   Right.  Then he came back.  Can you just tell us a bit more
    28        about what happened?
    29        A.  About what happened where and when?
    30
    31   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, I wonder what Jack-in-the-Box has to do
    32        with this case, I really do.  So far as I know, it has no
    33        connection with McDonald's.
    34
    35   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  What is it you are seeking for here?
    36        What does Jack-in-the-Box have to do with this?
    37
    38   MS. STEEL (To the witness): Jack-in-the-Box was to do with  ---
    39
    40   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, tell me.  I am asking you to tell me.
    41
    42   MS. STEEL:  -- burger production, I believe.
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, but to do with McDonald's?
    45
    46   MS. STEEL:  No, but to do with hamburger production and E.coli.
    47
    48   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, with respect, I do not accept that is a
    49        relevant enquiry.  The enquiry here is, whatever
    50        deficiencies there might or might not have been in 
    51        Jack-in-the-Box's chain of production, the question here 
    52        which your Lordship must decide is whether McDonald's 
    53        procedures are both effective in theory and in practice to
    54        prevent food poisoning.
    55
    56   MS. STEEL:  Mr. Walker mentioned Jack-in-the-Box in his
    57        evidence-in-chief.  I am just asking him to explain what
    58        that was about and why he has brought it up in connection
    59        to this.
    60