§ Dr. Glynasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is being done by his Department on food additives, including flavouring and colouring; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Department is not funding any research on food additives. The approval of food additives is based on the advice to Government provided by independent expert committees who, when considering the safety of any particular additive, take into account all the available scientific data. Should these committees require additional information the prospective manufacturer will be asked to privide it.
In addition, central Government funds through the Ministry of Agiculture, Fisheries and Food, research into the more general aspects of food additive safety. One project that is currently being funded in this way is investigating the incidence of intolerance reactions and the biological mechanisms that may promote such reactions.