HL Deb 06 June 1973 vol 343 cc100-2

2.42 p.m.

LORD BURNTWOOD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, when framing regulations covering the labelling of food, sufficient information was given to the Department concerned regarding the use of paraffin oil in the processing and conditioning of dried fruit imported for the United Kingdom market, and if they are satisfied that the inclusion of this mineral oil is adequate detailed on the retail packaging and in conformity with the regulations concerned.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, the use of paraffin oil in food is controlled by the Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations 1966. The Departments concerned were sufficiently informed of this legislation, and the use to which paraffin oil as an ingredient is put, when the Labelling of Food Regulations were framed. These are general regulations and they require a list of ingredients on the labels of most pre-packed food. The presence of paraffin oil, when it is used as an ingredient, must therefore be indicated on the label. So far as I am aware, the law is being enforced by the food and drug authorities which are charged with this duty.

LORD BURNTWOOD

My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that the Government of Australia, for instance, in their export regulations and arrangements have arranged for their dried food exports to be qualified not by paraffin oil but by an acceptable vegetable oil? Secondly, if it is a fact that such dried foods as are marketed in this country are properly labelled in the manner described by the noble Earl, should it not be brought to the attention of the public that there is quite a lot of medical evidence to the effect that paraffin oil acts as a buffer against the absorption into the human body of certain vitamins?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I am aware that there have been moves to try to make vegetable oil a substitute. But there are drawbacks to this such as, for instance, that it leaves a taint on the food concerned. It is, of course, up to the importer, and subsequently the retailer, to indicate the amount of paraffin oil contained in the wares he sells. If he gets the wares from a country of a different origin it is up to the retailer to ascertain precisely what the contents are. With regard to the noble Lord's last point, it is perfectly true that there are certain drawbacks to having paraffin oil in food but the Food Standards Committee and the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee and the Toxicity Sub-Committee have all considered these points. So also have the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and the considered view is that the amount ingested is unlikely to cause harm.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, may I ask the Minister, who referred to "most pre-packed food", why some foods are exempt?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, there are some foods which are exempt. One such is bread, which may be regarded as a pre-packed food when it is sliced and wrapped. There is a fairly comprehensive list which the noble Baroness will find on page 40 of the Food and Drugs Labelling of Food Regulations. It includes such things as artificial sweetening tablets, condensed milk, coffee and chicory mixtures, including French coffee. There are a number of other things which, for convenience, it has been decided not to include.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, can the noble Earl tell me what is the penalty for failing to indicate the contents of a pre-packed food?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, it is a fine of £100 or three months' imprisonment, or both.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL: Good!