§ 35. Mr. DONOVANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that sickness, generally denoting enteric symptoms, is prevalent in Ireland, and that the medical profession attribute it to the inferior 7 character of the constituents of the bread now manufactured; whether the millers regard the 80 per cent, extraction from the wheat under the Food Controller's Orders as too high, introducing elements which give rise to stomach and other alarming complaints; whether, in view of these circumstances, the Orders will be amended, so that the percentage may be reduced to 70 per cent., which is considered by experts as the maximum standard beyond which it is dangerous to the health of the community to manufacture flour for human consumption; and whether he will amend the Food Orders so as to prevent uncooked ingredients like Indian corn, etc., being mixed with the wheat flour, the mixture being highly deleterious to the health of the people?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have no information to suggest that sickness of the type referred to is prevalent in Ireland or elsewhere, and I have no ground for thinking that the medical profession or mi'lers generally hold the view indicated in the first two parts of this question. In any case it cannot be seriously suggested that an 80 per cent, restriction from wheat is unwholesome, in view of the very considerable consumption of wholemeal bread, involving a restriction of 95 per cent, or more., nor can there be any question as to the digestibility of maize, a matter which was specially considered and reported on by a committee of the Royal Society. The Food Controller is not prepared, accordingly, to adopt the course suggested in the last two parts of the question. It is, however, possible that in certain cases mild complaints have arisen through the consumption of badly-baked bread, and instructions are being sent to bakers from the Ministry of Food with a view to correct this.