§ 3 p.m.
§ The Viscount of Falkland asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether there is any health risk to consumers from the use of mineral hydrocarbons in food processing.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)My Lords, no adverse effects on human health have been reported. Nevertheless, the Government are aware that long-term exposure to mineral hydrocarbons in the diet may cause problems. That is why the independent Scientific Committee on Toxicity is considering the latest data.
The Viscount of FalklandMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her Answer. As she confirmed, the Government's committee on toxicity said that mineral hydrocarbons were unsuitable for use in food processing. Nevertheless, certain foods, such as chewing gum—if one may describe that as a food—and cheese with a waxy outside, such as Edam, still contain a high proportion. Most of us who chew gum can probably think of a more sensible way of disposing of it than to swallow it, but there are people who may nibble at the outside of a cheese. In commercial baking, where mineral hydrocarbons are used to spray machinery, would it not be fair to consumers—both of chewing gum and cheese—to put that fact on the label and so allow people to choose whether or not to buy it?
§ Baroness CumberlegeMy Lords, the noble Viscount makes an interesting suggestion. It is one that has not been considered by the committee advising on food and labelling. With pleasure I shall take the suggestion to the committee and seek its views.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that her first Answer can only be regarded as encouraging? The Government are obviously concerned with the Question which must come under the heading of being a form of preventive medicine.
§ Baroness CumberlegeYes, my Lords.
§ Lord Wade of ChorltonMy Lords, does my noble friend not agree that wax has been used as a covering for a whole range of different varieties of cheese for many years and that there has never been any case of someone being taken ill as a result of eating it, if in fact they have been silly enough to do so?
§ Baroness CumberlegeMy Lords, I agree. It would take a great deal of determination to eat the covering of an Edam cheese.
§ Lord DesaiMy Lords, given the seriousness of the Question, can the noble Baroness explain why, although a report was issued in 1989 regarding draft proposals on toxicity, nothing has been done by the Government to issue any directive in that regard for either consumers or shops?
§ Baroness CumberlegeMy Lords, the Scientific Committee on Toxicity suggested that the preparations should be banned. Consultation was then carried out by the Government which brought to light certain complications, including the use of mineral hydrocarbons in some pesticides and veterinary drugs. It became clear also that further relevant research on mineral hydrocarbons was already being undertaken and we were aware that manufacturers had already cut down on their usage. In the light of those developments it was considered wise to defer the planned restrictions until the additional research had been evaluated by the committee on toxicity.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, how far are the Government looking into the use of technical white oil and its effect on the human body? I refer specifically to liquid paraffin which falls into that category. Is the noble Baroness aware that the human body is the one piece of equipment which, the more one lubricates it, the more noise it makes?
§ Baroness CumberlegeMy Lords, as a doctor's daughter I am well aware of that.