HC Deb 08 February 1971 vol 811 c61W
Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce regulations to make compulsory the open date stamping of packaged perishable foods.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

It is illegal under the Food and Drug Act to sell food that is not fit for human consumption and open date stamping is not necessarily an effective guarantee of quality. When the Food Standards Committee considered the date marking of pre-packed food in 1964 they recommended that such a requirement was not practical. I am. however, asking them whether, in the light of any developments since they last reported, they wish to reconsider the advice which they gave on this question.

Mr. James Hill

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to encourage all manufacturers of perishable foods to discontinue the system of a secret code date, and to substitute a clear expiration date on each package.

Mr. Prior

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler) today.