§ 65. Mr. Shepherdasked the Minister of Food what steps are taken to check the quality of Danish bacon on its arrival at British ports; and what percentage has had to be destroyed in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. WebbA sample is taken from each shipment on arrival and inspected 1158 by the trade, who report the result to us. A total of 0.036 per cent. of the Danish bacon imported during the past 12 months was found unfit for human consumption. Most of this was processed for industrial uses.
§ Mr. ShepherdDoes the right hon. Gentleman know that only a couple of weeks ago, in my constituency, 10 tons of this commodity had to be dumped, and that the medical officer took the view that it could have been inspected, and the defect discovered, at the port?
§ Mr. WebbI think that this figure is most reassuring. I do not know whether the 10 tons mentioned by the hon. Gentleman are included in the figure which I have given, but on the whole I think it is a very low figure.