§ 25. Mrs. Mannasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the widespread practice of substituting liquids for solids in tins of fruit, stews, etc.; and whether he will take action under Section 6 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, to stop this misleading practice.
§ Sir D. EcclesIt is an offence to label food with a false or misleading trade description. If the hon. Lady will give me her evidence I will consider taking action.
§ Mrs. MannIs not the President of the Board of Trade aware that, though the weight of the contents is clearly stated on the label in accordance with the Food and Drugs Act, the liquid content is constantly increasing and the solid content is decreasing and that this represents a hidden increase in price? Is he aware that this practice is not tolerated in America or in the Scandinavian countries and that it is seven years since the Hodgson Committee reported against it?
§ Sir D. EcclesI was not aware of what the hon. Lady has just said, but I think that she should put her question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of 1241 Agriculture. It is the Ministry of Agriculture that is responsible for the composition of food. The Board of Trade's responsibility relates only to whether the description on the label is true or false.