European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 4 stars and stripes Friday july 11,1986 3 states dispute Mcdonald s claim Chain yielded to pressure to list ingred ends authorities say Chicago a Mcdonald s corp. Misled the Public when it said it was revealing the ingredients or its fast food because of increasing customer inter est failing to acknowledge pressure to do so from attorneys general in three states authorities said wednesday. Mcdonald a seller of More than 50 billion Ham burgers announced monday that it was distributing the information to its restaurants and franchises nationwide. On wednesday however officials with the attorneys general offices in California new York and Texas said Mcdonald s agreed to provide the information Only after pressure from them. They also said Mcdonald s jumped the gun by announcing the move before a joint statement agreed to by Mcdonald s and four other fast Foo operations. Texas attorney general Jim Mattox said through an assistant that the Mcdonald s announcement rep resented a calculated Effort to make the Public think they were doing this out of the goodness of their heart when in fact they were doing it because of pressure from our it s our position they did it in Hopes of mislead ing the Public said Steve Gardner an assistant attorney general in Mattox s office. Mcdonald s officials said they were standing by monday s announcement. The primary reason we re doing this is because of increasing customer interest said Charles Rubner an assistant vice president at Mcdonald s suburban Oak Brook Headquarters. I will acknowledge that certainly the discussions we be had with the attorneys general was Good input to us that signalled to us there was More widespread interest in the Issue beyond the East Gardner and officials in the California attorney general s office said Mcdonald s agreed to publish the ingredient information As part of an agreement negotiated with it and Burger King Jack in the Box Kentucky Fried Chicken and Wendy s. They said Mcdonald s was the last of the five to agree. In California Fred Register special assistant tothe attorney general said Mcdonald s also violated an agreement calling for a joint Public announce ment of the fast food chains decision to publish nutrition information. Register said Mcdonald s news announcement creates the impression that Mcdonald s has taken a step independently of its competitors when in fact twas the result of very considerable pressure and negotiations directed at the entire Industry by attorneys general offices in several Gardner said the attorneys general became involved because of pressure from the Center for Sci ence in the Public interest a non profit consumer advocacy group in Washington . Michael Jacobson the Center s executive director said wednesday that his organization believes pub Lishing booklets listing ingredients and nutrition in formation in t enough. Mcdonald s and other fast food chains Are required by Federal Law to print ingredients on the wrappers of their food Jacobson said. The Issue is important he said because people with High blood pressure allergies or other ailments must know what s in their food. For example a Mcdonald s . Burger has680 calories 1,005 milligrams of sodium and 100 my of cholesterol. The company s dietary information also notes that Mcdonald s Cooks its French Fries in a mixture of beef fat and cottonseed Oil an that its Chicken a nuggets Are made from ground Chicken meat and skin. Beef fat is highly saturated fat and conducive to heart Jacobson said. This is not just a matter of curiosity. For people with health concerns it can be Rubner also said wednesday that Mcdonald Shad reversed an earlier decision and plans to include information about the amount of cholesterol and Saltin its menu items. Fes will ban use of sulfite at salad Washington a the food and drug to list ration issued regulations wednesday nning the use Etsul Fite preservatives Orn Hesh fruits and vegetables in restaurant s the regulations which Yte effect in30 Days remove six types on unite preservatives suspected in at least death nationwide from the Fra s list additives generally recognized As Safe adoption of the rules follows Nearl two years of debate in Congress and within the Fra and the scientific Community on the possible dangers from sul Fite preservatives particularly those use Don restaurant salad bars. Sulfite have Long been used to make fresh fruits and vegetables look More at Tractive. Sulfite keep lettuce from Wilt ing for example and prevent Apple slices from turning Brown. They Are harmless for most people but not to an estimated 500,000 sensitive people mostly asthmatics who can suf Fer an allergic reaction to the substances. Most reactions Are mild resulting on Yin nausea hives diarrhoea or shortness of breath. But severe reactions can Send person into Shock and constrict the air passages causing suffocation. The National restaurant association and the produce marketing association in endorsing the proposal for a ban astir said most restaurants have stopped the preservatives because of the have been associated wit most of to serious problems and the idea of posting Gas in restaurants when sulfite have Bei idd cd has not been universally accept my Fra commissioner Frank e. Yon said tuesday. Thus we believe we Momon the sul Fites in this the Agency said the Regudo based in part on studies conducted by a Independent scientific panel on sulfite hazards which recommended a ban Aswell As on its own studies of 500 reports of reactions filed since 1983, including13 deaths. But the Fra also was under pressure from Congress. A hearing on Issue last year featured emotional Mony by the parents of a loll of old Oregon girl who died after with sulfite in Ari Mirant and who accused the Fra a action. The Fra regut font published i wednesday s Felp Register affects six sulfite preserve was Fulfur dioxide sodium sulfite Prum and potassium Bisel Fite and Prum and potassium mesabi edition the Fra ordered a new re requirement for some pack 1 foods to take effect in six months. Disclosure labels already Are required when sulfite Anu med As preservatives in Many pad in foods such As dried fruit Lemd Stuice Maraschino cherries and surf planned soups. New requirement orders labels Forille amounts of sulfite used in Bak ing and other processes if any sulfite Ait detectable in the final product the Agency said other non package foods used in restaurants such As Pota toes and seafood will be covered by late regulations. Mitch Zeller of the Center for science in the Public interest which has actively pursued the sulfite Issue called the ban a step in the right direction but said the Fra should go further in moving against the preservatives. Zeller also said the Fra has missed june i congressional deadline for regu lating All uses of sulfite preservatives. Director Coppola s intoxicated when filled Baltimore up Gian Carlo Coppola son of film director Francis Ford Coppola was intoxicated when he was killed in a Freak boating Accident in May an autopsy report showed wednesday. Or. Ann Dixon an assistant stat medical examiner said Coppola s blood alcohol level was 0.15 percent Points above the Legal limit in Maryli for a person of Coppola about 125 pounds a blood Alec tent of 0.15 percent indicates has consumed five drinks in j. Said Jim Williams a spokesman for Testate police alcohol unit. Coppola 22, was Kille Oklay 26 on the South River off the Chesapeake Bay when the boat he and Griffin o Neal 21, son of actor bin o Neal were Riding in Cut Bej ten two Power boat Sand struck a to june. The Nylon me slammed Coppola to the boat s Flo find the medical examiner s report sane died of massive head injuries. J Arundel county Deputy state Satt Dray Gerald Anders who is heading a grand into the Acci Dent said Jfe were conflicting reports Concemi whether Coppola or o Neal was of Effig the boat. Told police at the scene that was driving the boat but wit testified the Driver had Short Londe hair. Coppola had Long dark Talbot skipper of the boat being towed said the boat carrying the two Young men was travelling at an excessive Speed when it hit the Tow the Driver was crouched behind the wheel just As if he was trying to get every ounce of Speed he could out of that boat. It was like he was in some kind of trance or something fascinated with the Speed Talbot Cecil a spokesman for the Anne Arundel county state s attorney said the grand jury is expected to return with its findings in about two and o Neal were in the Washington ., area for the shooting of the film gardens of Stone produced by Coppola s father. Enate pane subpoenas Ler pow to testify up a for Mer prisoner War who refused to testify before a Senate committee about missing am flan servicemen in Southeast Asia Nal Gen subpoenaed to appear next Ween a maj. Mark Smith a ret i army Green Beret had been sche3%d to testify before the Senate Veteran fairs committee on june 25 backed out 15 minutes before or hearing opened. He was subpoenaed to appear on july 16. Smith also was to testify about videotape he said he had seen about some american prisoners in South East Asia. The chairman of the committee sen Frank Murkowski a Alaska said maj. Smith agreed to appear before the committee on june 25, and when he elected not to testify the committee was left with no other Choice than to have the subpoena a similar order was served in Fayetteville n.c., on retired sgt Melvin Mclntyre who also testified in january and who served in Southeast Asia with Smith in a special forces intelligence unit that was trying to track Down information about americans still listed 8$ missing in action. Both Smith and Mclntyre have brought suit against the . Govern ment alleging they were wrongly1"reed to retire from the army be fee they attempted to go channels for information missing americans. Theft liner Green berets testified under oat they bad seen evidence of americans 41 they were prevented by their commanding officers from passing it on. Thew Rmer command ers testified this was Rcpt True and an attempt to Iron out Tinl Cuth in a confrontation before could not take place Smith s refusal to testify. F r t of i a
