§ 14. Mrs. Doris Fisherasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider seeking to introduce legislation to control the quality and strength of bottled fruit drinks to enable the housewife to determine whether she is getting value for money.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartRegulations now in force prescribe minimum requirements for the content and labelling of soft drinks including fruit ones.
§ Mrs. FisherMany of these products are labelled "fruit flavoured", which means nothing to the housewife. Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the legislation protects the consumer?
§ Mr. StodartThese regulations stem from 1970 and they exempt manufacturers from putting ingredients on the labels until 1976. But in view of what I have read in the Press today of the emphasis placed by the spokesman of the National Association of Soft Drinks Manufacturers on label stocks as being a stumbling block to achieving what I believe is a good thing, I intend to ask that when new labels are required before then they shall anticipate the 1976 requirements.