§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of
Food whether he is aware that there is in various districts a growth of digestive pains and nettle-rash, which is attributed by medical men to the quality of the war bread now being sold; whether he has any information showing that the maize used in certain cases for mixing with flour is not properly prepared; whether he has seen that the inmates of a workhouse near London were taken ill as a result of eating the war bread and that the board of guardians, after investigation, condemned this particular bread as unfit for human consumption; and whether he will cause investigation to be made into the whole matter?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo trustworthy evidence has been adduced to the effect that the ailments referred to are attributable either to the quality of war bread or to the admixture of maize with wheaten 395W flour, nor has my attention been called to the incident mentioned in the latter part of the question. There is, no doubt, a difference in the quality of bread produced by different bakers, and every effort is being made to level up the inferior kinds. Owing to a temporary decrease in the importation of maize the use of this cereal for purposes of admixture has been and is being diminished.
§ Mr. MILLARasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been directed to the different varieties of bread at present being sold in which there is an admixture of from seven to 25 per cent, of malt flour or malt extract, including Veda, Bermaline, Piletex and Yuama, and other malt bread; and whether, having regard to the palatable and nutritious character of these loaves, he will take steps to secure the further use of malt flour and malt extract in baking?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is not considered that there would be any advantage in encouraging the additional use of such varieties of bread, the demand for which is limited owing to its higher cost.