§ MR. CARR-GOMM (Southwark, Rotherhithe)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that borax and boracic acid are largely used in the United Kingdom for the preservation of ham, bacon, milk, and other articles of food; whether their use for this purpose is permitted in the countries exporting such articles of food to the United Kingdom; whether, to be effective, the borax or boracic acid must penetrate the article treated; whether, if so, any deleterious effect can be prevented by superficial washing; and whether be intends to introduce a measure forbidding the application of such preservatives to articles of food intended for consumption in this country.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware of the facts as regards the use in the United Kingdom of borax and boracic acid for the preservation of certain articles of food, and that in some countries from which such articles are sent here use of these preservatives is prohibited, although in certain of these countries the prohibition does not extend to foods prepared for export to the United Kingdom. If boron preservatives are used for packing such articles of food as hams and bacon they usually penetrate the substance of the meat, and would not be removable by superficial washing, whilst penetration must, of course, occur if solutions containing these preservatives are used for pickling or injection. The Public Health ("Regulations as to Food) Bill which I have introduced, and which is now before the House, would enable the Local Government Board to make regulations for the prevention of danger to public health from the importation, preparation, and storage of articles of food intended for human consumption and thus to deal with the matter referred to in the Question.