The Earl Onslowasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice they have received from the Food Advisory Committee on the use of mineral hydrocarbons in food.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)Following a review of new toxicological data by the Department of Health's Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, the Food Advisory Committee has advised that mineral hydrocarbons are no longer acceptable for food and should be removed from direct food use and from food processing as quickly as practicable.
My right honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary (Mr. Ryder) proposes to introduce regulations as soon as possible under the Food Act 1984 to implement the advice of the Food Advisory Committee to ban the use of these substances as food additives and in food processing. I should stress, however, that there is no evidence that these substances have to date produced adverse effects in humans.
Mineral hydrocarbons are permitted by regulation for use on dried fruit such as prunes and currants to stop them sticking together, on citrus fruit to replace the natural wax coating lost in washing, on the protective rind of some cheeses, as a glazing agent on some sugar confectionery, and may occur as residues from the processing of foods such as confectionery, jellies, bread and sausages.
One further use, in chewing gum bases, is being separately reviewed and the FAC has also been asked to review their use in the manufacture of food packaging materials. I will make a further announcement about their use in chewing gum and food packaging materials when the committee's further advice is received.