§ 16. Dr. Barnett Strossasked the Minister of Food what further progress has been made as to the replacement of the agene treatment of flour by a substance which is less toxic.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAs the reply to this Question is rather long I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the reply:On 27th January, 1950, a scientific committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Wilson Jameson, then chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, comprising representatives of the Ministries of Food and Health, the Medical Research Council and the milling industry, issued a statement regarding the possible toxic effects of the commonly used flour improver, nitrogen trichloride, known as agene. The committee was unable to find any evidence that agenised flour is toxic to man. Nevertheless, in view of its deleterious effect when fed in large quantities to certain animals it was felt that the use of agene should be discontinued.The committee was, however, satisfied that if a loaf acceptable to the general public is to be produced in this country some form of "improver" or improving process must continue to be used to safeguard its baking qualities.At the time of the committee's report the most suitable improver appeared to be chlorine dioxide. But other substances and processes are in use or in prospect and it is clearly desirable that they should all be examined with the object of determining those which will best serve the national interest.Accordingly, as I stated in the House of Commons on 19th November, 1951, a joint examination of such alternatives is being undertaken by the Departments concerned and the Medical Research Council in association with scientific and technical representatives of the milling and baking industries. This examination includes
- (i) studies of the relative effects of the different methods of improvement on the constituents of the loaf, which are being
1163 undertaken by the Medical Research Council and also by the Research Association of British Flour Millers; - (ii) assessments of the acceptability of the resulting bread from commercial trials, which are being made by an independent panel sponsored by the Ministry of Food; and
- (iii) investigations of various types of machinery and processes designed to effect improvement.
In view of the wide scope of these various investigations it appears unlikely that they can be completed before the end of the current year.In the meantime the public can be assured that no evidence has been found to indicate that the present methods of treatment of flour, including agenisation, which have been in operation in this and other countries for many years are injurious to human health.
§ 17. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the toxic action of methionine sulphoximine, a product of the action of agene on flour; and to what extent it inhibits the action of cholinesterase in brain tissue.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAs regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 19th November, 1951.
As regards the second part of the Question, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the issue of "Nature" of 8th March, 1952, in which the complex scientific considerations involved are discussed.
§ Dr. StrossWhile thanking the Minister for his courtesy and kindness in sending me a copy of "Nature," which I have read, may I ask him if he is aware that we suspect that any inhibition of the action of cholinesterase brings about forgetfulness and faulty memory? Can he tell the House whether it is this, namely, the use of agene in flour, that accounts for the Government's forgetfulness in regard to their promises at the General Election?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI can say definitely, speaking for myself, that I have no experience whatever of this stimulant to which the hon. Gentleman refers.