HC Deb 16 December 1963 vol 686 cc843-5
34. Mr. Prior

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is proposing to take to stop the artificial discolouration of meat.

Mr. Soames

I presume my hon. Friend has in mind the use of nicotinic acid on meat. As soon as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I learned of the recent cases of people being affected after eating meat treated with nicotinic acid we asked the Food Additives and Contaminants Sub-Committee of the Food Standards Committee to investigate this substance and its use in food and to report as soon as possible. I also drew the attention of the National Federation of Meat Traders' Associations to these cases, and I understand that the Federation has now advised its members not to use substances of this kind pending Government inquiry.

Mr. Prior

I thank my right hon. Friend for that very satisfactory reply. Will he bear in mind the fact that this is the second case we have had in recent months of meat being tampered with either by tenderisation or by staining in some way? Will he ask the Food Standards Committee to get on with the job so that the public may know what they are buying?

Mr. Soames

The Food Standards Committee is meeting tomorrow.

Mr. Darling

Would it not be better, when a situation like this arises, for the operation to be stopped; for it to be completely banned while an inquiry takes place? Could the right hon. Gentleman do something to speed up the inquiries made by this Committee, for it seems to take far too long in its deliberations?

Mr. Soames

Some cases take longer than others. Some are dealt with quite quickly. As to whether there should be a complete ban at the time, this must depend largely on the degree of trouble involved and the degree of seriousness. I understand that this substance is not now being used. However, nicotinic acid is not necessarily bad, when used in small quantities. In fact, I believe that it must, by Order, be used in bread. For this reason, I do not think that this is something which we should ban prior to advice being received from the Food Standards Committee. I think that we have arrived at about the right result in this case.

Mr. Darling

How can the Minister know whether this substance can be good or bad before the inquiry has taken place? Why should he pre-judge the position before the inquiry, when it might be possible afterwards for everyone to be agreed that this substance should not be used? Surely it would be best for him to ban it before the inquiry takes place and afterwards decide upon its use?

Mr. Soames

To ban it would equally be to prejudge the issue.