§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he proposes in the Board's Regulations for the restriction of the use of preservatives in milk and cream to prohibit the use of formalin as a preservative of cream, but to permit the use for that purpose of boric acid, biborate of soda, and other like antiseptics deemed by medical experts to have an injurious effect upon the nervous system; whether, and for what reason, his expert advisers differentiate between these various adulterants; and whether sterilisation and keeping under suitable atmospheric conditions would in their opinion render unnecessary the use of all such preservatives?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Draft Regulations which I have had prepared propose to prohibit the use of formalin in cream, but not to prohibit the use of boric acid, borax, or a mixture of those preservative substances, provided that a full declaration of the presence of the preservative and the amount added is made in the manner prescribed by the Regulations. The considerations which have been taken into account in framing the Draft Regulations in question are dealt with in Dr. Hamill's report to the Local Government Board respecting the use of preservatives in cream.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs it necessary that we should have any of these nerve poisons in our London cream?
§ Mr. BURNSIf the hon. Gentleman will look both at the Report and the Draft Regulations he will see that we are doing our very best to reduce these elements to the smallest possible proportion.