HC Deb 16 September 2004 vol 424 cc1753-4WS
Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the Food Standards Agency to publish good practice guidelines for the use of the term, suitable for vegetarians, on food labels and menus. [188055]

Miss Melanie Johnson

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 15 September 2004,Official Report, columns 1643–44W.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to prevent the inclusion in foods labelled as vegetarian of processing agents derived from animals. [188056]

Miss Melanie Johnson

On 24 September, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) plans to hold a stakeholder meeting to discuss the labelling of vegetarian products.

General medical practitioners (excluding registrars retainers and locums)1 who work full-time for Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health

Authority by primary care trust
Number (headcount)
1997 1998 1999
General medical

practitioners

(excluding

registrars,

retainers and

locums)1

 Of which: full-

time

 General medical

practitioners

(excluding

registrars,

retainers and

locums)1

 Of which: full-

time

 General medical

practitioners

(excluding

registrars,

retainers and

locums)1

 Of which: full-

time
Surrey and Sussex SHA 1,412 1,200 1,432 1,190 1,431 1,180
Of which:
Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT 5L8 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Bexhill and Rother PCT 5FH n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Brighton and Hove City PCT 5LQ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Crawley PCT 5MA n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT 5KP n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
East Surrey PCT 5KQ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Eastbourne Downs PCT 51R n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Guildford and Waverley PCT 5L5 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hastings and St. Leonards PCT 5FJ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT 5MC n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Mid–Sussex PCT 5FK n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
North Surrey PCT 5L6 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 5LT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Western Sussex PCT 5L9 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Woking PCT 5L7 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

The meeting will consider whether establishment of FSA advice for industry and enforcement authorities on use of the terms 'vegetarian' and 'vegan' would be helpful.

The Food Safety Act 1990 and the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 already contain provisions outlawing false or misleading labelling. The FSA considers that the presence of processing agents derived from animals in a food labelled as 'suitable for vegetarians' would contravene this legislation, which is enforced by local authorities.