§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to introduce labelling of coffee for the different processes of decaffeination; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe labelling of coffee and coffee products is harmonised throughout the European Community; the harmonised rules provide for the use of the description "decaffeinated" but not for differentiation between different processes. Any additional provisions would have to be discussed at EC level; I have no plans to initiate any such discussions.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the safety of the different processes used to decaffeinate coffee; whether any of his committees have considered the matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanWater, carbon dioxide, and dichloromethane are used to decaffeinate coffee. Both carbon dioxide and dichloromethane were considered by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee in its review of solvents in 1978 and found to be suitable for use in food although further data on dichloromethane was requested.
These have subsequently been provided and both the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food and the Environment (COT) and the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food have approved its use providing residues do not exceed 5mg/kg.