§ 44. Viscount SANDONasked the Minister of Health if he has any information as to the use of substitutes for cream by bakers and confectioners involving the breach of the Milk and Dairies Act; and what steps are being taken to circumvent this?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is a well-known fact that substitutes for cream are commonly used by bakers and confectioners, but so long as these substitutes are not injurious to health and the articles in which they are used are not incorrectly described, there is no offence in regard to which statutory proceedings could be taken. It is not a matter to which the Milk and Dairies Acts apply.
Commander WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman sure that the British public are adequately protected from various foreign substitutes which come in to displace the much purer British cream?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe question I have to consider is whether the substitutes are injurious to health or whether, alternatively, the articles are correctly described. So long as they do not transgress either of those conditions, we cannot take statutory action.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as the result of the prohibition of preservatives in cream, confectioners are almost entirely using synthetic cream?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIt is a fact.
§ Mr. MARCHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all substitutes used by confectioners are not of foreign manufacture?