Sausages (Meat Content)

HC Deb 06 November 1961 vol 648 cc601-2

18. Mrs. Slater

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when a standard will be laid down for the meat content of sausages.

Mr. Vane

It is not my right hon. Friend's intention to lay down a standard for the meat content of sausages.

Mrs. Slater

Does the Parliamentary Secretary know that every local authority is faced with the grave problem of not being able to bring a case against any offender who has produced sausages with a low meat content? Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that this leaves the housewife at the mercy of people who are prepared to make sausages with a low meat content; and further, in view of the high consumption of sausages in this House, does he not think that there should be some such standard?

Mr. Vane

This whole question was inquired into some time ago, as the hon. Lady knows, and my right hon. Friend's predecessor, in answer to a Question, showed how extremely difficult it was to lay down standards which were enforceable. There is really very little purpose in laying down standards which are not enforceable. As to the purchase of sausages, I should have thought that the average woman, or man for that matter, was as good a judge of sausages in the shops, and there are so many good sausages on the market that I do not see why anybody need buy bad sausages a second time.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Does my hon. Friend recall that the late Lord Crookshank said that Socialist sausages were more like cream buns than sausages?