§ Mr. MORTONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether quantities of fat obtained from diseased pigs and other unsound meats which have been condemned by the authorities in America are imported into the United Kingdom without being artificially coloured or otherwise denatured; whether, in the circumstances, this material can be supplied to makers of lard or other foods in this country; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to prevent this matter from being used in the preparation of food?
§ Mr. BURNSI understand that it is the case that consignments of fat of the character indicated in the question are imported into the United Kingdom. The fat has not been denatured, although, in conformity with the American regulations, it is imported in containers with whitened ends on which the nature of the contents and words indicating that they are not for human consumption appear. There is, however, some risk of this material being obtained by lard refiners in this country, and the matter has received the attention of my Department, and of medical officers of health at the ports of importation. Under the Regulations issued last year under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, consignments of the material in question have been detained at the port of entry until satisfactory guarantees have been given that they are to be used for industrial purposes (such, for instance, as soap-making) only.