HC Deb 23 January 1967 vol 739 c170W
34. Mr. Parker

asked the Minister of Health whether he will lay down statutory standards for ice cream, in view of the present health risks involved in its sale.

52. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the representations made to him on behalf of the council of the London Borough of Barking, expressing concern that no standards are prescribed for ice cream which would enable local authorities to take legal proceedings against vendors of ice cream found, on analysis, to be substandard; whether attempts are still being made to devise a bacteriological test sufficiently precise to enable him to prescribe statutory standards; and whether, meanwhile, he is satisfied that the methylene blue test is adequate.

Mr. Snow

My right hon. Friend has considered the representations, but he is not proposing to introduce statutory bacterial standards for ice cream, which is a very safe food. The methylene blue test has proved satisfactory, and adequate powers already exist under which local authorities can take proceedings should these be necessary.