§ 33. Sir Edward Keelingasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there is a demand, both at home and abroad, for bitter marmalade containing less than the minimum prescribed proportion of sugar; and whether he will ask the Food Standards Committee to consider whether the existing standards for marmalade and jam can be abolished or modified.
§ The Minister of Food (Major Lloyd George)I have asked the Food Standards Committee to review the existing standard for this type of marmalade.
§ Sir E. KeelingI thank my right hon. and gallant Friend.
§ 35. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Food when the term "Full Fruit Standards," as applied to jam, will cease to be used; and whether sulphur dioxide is still used in the preservation of the fruit pulp which is later artificially dyed.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe use of the term "Full Fruit Standards" jam will no longer be required when the Food Standards (Preserve) Order, 1953, comes into force at various dates between September this year and May, 1954. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes."
§ Dr. StrossDoes the Minister mean that when this term is no longer used sulphur dioxide will no longer be used and will be forbidden in the way it was before the war?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeNo. but it is still an offence to use anything which is injurious.
§ Dr. StrossMay I press the Minister further? It was always accepted that it was injurious to use sulphur dioxide for fruit preservation. That is why the Ministry forbade it before the war. When is the Minister going to do that again?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI am prepared to look into that question, but the fact is that when jam is boiled the sulphur dioxide disappears.