HC Deb 01 July 1953 vol 517 cc377-8
13. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Food the amounts of calcium available in one pint of milk and 1 lb. of bread to which the statutory amount of chalk has been added; and the annual cost of adding 11,300 tons of chalk to bread.

Major Lloyd George

One pint of milk supplies 680 milligrams calcium; 1 lb. of bread, containing added calcium carbonate, 649 milligrams. The answer to the second part of the Question is about £50,000, which is the cost of treating flour costing £160 million.

Dr. Stross

In view of the fact that milk appears to contain a very large amount of natural calcium and as this is the best way of getting it into the nation's diet, would not the Minister agree to spend money at present expended on chalk to subsidise the milk so that the present surplus could be used for drinking?

Major Lloyd George

The amount of calcium costs £50,000. The extra milk to get the same amount of calcium would cost £180 million.

Dr. Stross

Does not the Minister agree that at least there is a principle that it is wiser to have more milk consumed and less chalk added to our flour?

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