§ Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the importation of all nitrite-treated cured bacon which can cause cancers by means of the consumption of dimethyl-nitrosamine and nitrosopyrrolidine.
§ Mrs. FennerI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6th February to the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler).—[Vol. 850, c.71.] Ministers are advised on these questions by committees of independent medical and scientific experts who have not considered it necessary to recommend controls, other than those currently in force in this country.
The use of nitrite is necessary for the preservation and safety of certain foods. The products, whether home produced or imported, in which nitrites are a permitted preservative and the limits on the quantities which may be used are controlled in this country by the Preservatives in Food Regulations 1962 as amended by the Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1971.