§ 12. Mr. Douglas Marshallasked the Minister of Food what percentage of pure fruits was contained in jam in July, 1939; and what is the percentage now.
§ Mr. WebbAs the reply contains many figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. MarshallIs not it a fact that before the war this percentage was 95 per cent., and that now it is below 40 per cent.? Is the Minister also aware of the fact that the soft fruit industry has had surpluses which it has not been able to get rid of, and will he consider giving more sugar to the fruit canning industry so that we can use up our home grown fruit?
§ Mr. WebbThe pre-war jam standards had no statutory force. They represented a voluntary agreement in the industry. I cannot give more sugar to the manufacturers at the moment. I wish I could. If the hon. Gentleman has any further doubts after having examined my answer, perhaps he would put down another Question.
§ Following is the table:
| MINIMUM FRUIT CONTENT OF JAM AND MARMALADE | |||||
| Description of Jam or Marmalade | Pre-war Full Fruit Standard and Fresh Fruit Standard of the Food Manufacturers' Federation | Pre-war Lower Fruit Standard of the Food Manufacturers' Federation | Current Minimum Standard as prescribed by S.R. & O. 1944 No. 842 as amended (a) | ||
| Percentage of fruit | Percentage of fruit | Percentage of fruit | |||
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | ||
| Apple and Blackberry | 40 | (30/10) | 20 | 40 | (30/10) |
| Apple and Blackcurrant | |||||
| Apple and Damson | |||||
| Apple and Plum | |||||
| Apple and Raspberry and/or Logan berry | |||||
| Apple and Strawberry | |||||
| Apple Jelly | 40 | 20 | 40 | ||
| Apricot | 40 | 20 | 40 | ||
| Apricot and Peach | 40 | (20/20) | 20 | 40 | (20/20) |
| Bilberry | — | — | 40 | ||
| Blackberry (or Bramble) and Black-berry (or Bramble) Seedless or Jelly | 38 | 20 | 38 | ||
| Blackcurrant and Blackcurrant Jelly | 30 | 20 | 22 | ||
| Cherry | 45 | 20 | 40 | ||
| Damson and Damson Jelly | 38 | 20 | 38 | ||
| Elderberry Jelly and Elderberry Seed less | — | — | 40 | ||
| Gooseberry | 35 | 20 | 30 | ||
| Greengage | 40 | 20 | 38 | ||
| Loganberry | 38 | 20 | 25 | ||
| Peach and Mixtures of Peach with Citrus Fruit | 40 | 20 | 40 | ||
| Pineapple | — | — | 40 | ||
| Plum and Plum Jelly | 40 | 20 | 40 | ||
| Plum and Blackcurrant | 40 | (30/10) | 20 | 40 | (30/10) |
| Plum and Raspberry | 40 | (30/10) | 20 | 40 | (30/10) |
| Plum and Strawberry | 40 | (30/10) | 20 | 40 | (30/10) |
| Quince Jelly | — | — | 40 | ||
| Raspberry and Raspberry Seedless or Jelly | 38 | 20 | 25 | ||
| Raspberry and Gooseberry | 40 | 20 | 30 | (15/15) | |
| Raspberry and Loganberry | — | — | 25 | (15/10) | |
| Raspberry and Redcurrant | 40 | 20 | 30 | (15/15) | |
| Redcurrant Jelly | 35 | 20 | 35 | ||
| Rhubarb | 45 | 20 | 40 | ||
| Rhubarb and Blackberry | 40 | (30/10) | 20 | 40 | (30/10) |
| Rhubarb and Raspberry | 40 | (30/10) | 20 | 40 | (30/10) |
| Strawberry | 42 | 20 | 37½ | ||
| Strawberry and Gooseberry | 40 | 20 | 35 | (17½/17½) | |
| All other jams | 40 | 20 | 40 | ||
| Marmalade | Not specified | Not specified | 20 | ||
| Marmalade Special Standard (Coarse Cut) | 30 | ||||
| Marmalade Special Standard (Jelly) | 20 | ||||
| Marmalade Special Standard (Grape-fruit) | 25 | ||||
| NOTE.—Where figures in brackets are specified in the second and fourth columns above in respect of a description of jam containing more than one variety of fruit, the first figure denotes the content of the variety of fruit first mentioned in such description, and the second figure denotes the total content of the other varieties of fruit mentioned in such description. | |||||
| a) S.R. & O. 1946 Nos. 157 and 1221; S.I. 1949 No. 1893; S.I. 1950 No. 1056. |
40. Mr. Macdonaldasked the Minister of Food when he proposes to increase the percentage of fruit content of jams.
§ Mr. WebbI recently made an Order to raise the minimum fruit content of some soft fruit jams. It will come into force on 25th September for sales by manufacturers, and, at dates to be fixed later, for sales by wholesale and by retail.
§ Mr. HurdCan the Minister say whether there is any rule which prevents jam manufacturers from using pure fruit and sugar, and nothing else?