§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will make it his policy, in the interests of the health of phenylketonurics to take steps to prevent the introduction of phenylalanine into food and drink products where it does not occur naturally;
(2) what is the incidence of phenylketonuria in the population of the United Kingdom; and whether he will take steps to alert parents of phenylketonurics to the introduction of any new food product containing phenylalanine.
§ Mr. John PattenAll proposed new food additives are reviewed for safety-in-use by the Department's independent expert advisory committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment. Should any additive recommended for use by the committee contain phenylalanine, then consideration would certainly be given to alerting those responsible for the care of phenylketonurics to its proposed introduction onto the market. However, on the basis of advice received, we see no reason to bar the use of any food additive containing this essential amino acid as a matter of general policy. The incidence of phenylketonuria varies between different parts of the country, but the average for the United Kingdom is about 1 per 10,000 live births.
§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations have taken place and what arrangements have been made concerning drawing to the attention of consumers the fact that the new sweetener, aspartame, contains phenylalanine, a substance dangerous to phenylketonurics.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Department's chief medical officer has written to regional and district medical officers to inform them of the introduction onto the market of this new sweetener. This letter has also been distributed to organisations and individuals with a particular concern in the dietary supervision of phenylketonurics.