HC Deb 21 February 1957 vol 565 cc577-8
19. Mr. Crouch

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of dairy produce is used in ice cream made by the large manufacturers.

Mr. Amory

I understand that a typical ice cream mix would include 10 per cent. of dairy products by weight.

Mr. Crouch

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in view of the large amount of milk which we are producing today, he has any powers to advise the use of a greater quantity of dairy products in the making of ice cream?

Mr. Amory

The present standards order, which imposes a minimum of 7½ per cent., I think, of dairy products, is at present being reviewed by the Food Standards Committee. I do not know what the result of its deliberations will be.

Mr. H. Hynd

If there is no more than 10 per cent. of dairy products, of what does the other 90 per cent. consist?

Mr. Amory

Ten per cent. fat, which need not be a dairy product, 13 per cent. sugar, 2 per cent. cereal filler, .9 per cent. of other components, and the rest water.

Mr. Crouch

May I ask my right hon. Friend if he is aware that farmhouse ice cream contains no water, but is practically all milk?

Mr. Amory

I know that there are certain brands of ice cream which contain considerably more than the 10 per cent. I have mentioned, and I would welcome the consumption of a bigger proportion of that type of ice cream.