§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what administrative arrangements exist to ensure that food sold to the consumer is monitored to see that it does not involve any hazard to health.
§ Mr. PriorIn October, 1971, I appointed, in consultation with my colleagues concerned, a standing committee (The Steering Group on Food Surveillance) under the Chairmanship of my Chief Scientific Adviser (Food) consisting of experts from my Department, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of Trade and Industry including the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, the Scottish Home and Health Department, the Welsh Office, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) and the Tropical Products Institute.
The Steering Group co-ordinates all work on monitoring foodstuffs, and ensures that immediate action is taken when an urgent situation demands. It keeps under review and where appropriate makes arrangements for analytical surveys of food with special reference to additives, chemical contaminants and nutrients. The Group delegates specific programmes of work to working parties such as the Working Party on the Monitoring of Foodstuffs for Heavy Metals.
The Steering Group is currently considering the needs and priorities for future monitoring programmes and the Working Party continues to monitor foodstuffs for mercury, lead and cadmium. Monitoring for any one particular food contaminant will only cease when it is considered that sufficient information has been obtained to indicate that there is not, nor will be. any risk to consumers.