§ 3.10 p.m.
BARONEES SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discourage the sale of untreated cream and take steps to ensure that cream in retail containers should be clearly described as untreated, pasteurised or sterilised, and bear some indication of the date of production.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government propose to make regulations shortly under the Food and Drugs Act 1955 which will control the labelling and composition of cream. The regulations will require retail containers to bear descriptions indicating the type of cream and the type of heat treatment, if any; for example, "pasteurised", "sterilised", "ultra heat treated" or "UHT", or "untreated". Her Majesty's Government accept the Food Standards Committee view that a compulsory requirement to date-mark foods, including cream, should not be imposed. The quality and freshness of the product depends on many factors, not least on the conditions under which it is transported and stored.
BARONEES SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I thank my noble friend from the bottom of my heart for that Answer?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I only hope that I live to enjoy this blessing.
§ LORD KILBRACKENMy Lords, will these regulations also apply to the sale of cream cheese, through which also diseases such as brucellosis can be transmitted to the public?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I think the answer in regard to cheese is "No", but I will confirm it.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, from the Answer originally given by the noble Lord, does one understand that the Government will not discourage the sale of untreated cream?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I am not quite sure what the noble Earl means. If some consumers prefer untreated cream there is no reason why they should not buy it.