§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether the Food Advisory Committee considered(a) summary or (b) full data when it approved the use of aspartame; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will place the data considered by the Food Advisory Committee on aspartame in the Library.
§ Mr. GummerThe data on aspartame considered by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee (FAC) (the predecessor of the Food Advisory Committee) comprised the case of need and a report from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, containing its considered advice on the safety of the sweetener. This is contained in the FAC report on the review of sweeteners in food (FAC/REP/34). Copies of this report are already lodged in the Library.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place a copy of the agreements between his Ministry and food companies, and advice given by his Ministry, relating to the labelling of products containing aspartame, in the Library.
§ Mr. GummerIt is a statutory requirement to declare aspartame in ingredients lists under the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 (S.I. 1984 No. 1305). My Ministry has issued no further advice on this matter nor does it have any agreements with food companies about aspartame.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now ask his Food Advisory Committee to urgently review aspartame; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. GummerBoth the Food Advisory Committee and the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment are currently reviewing the use of all sweeteners in food. I anticipate receiving their full report and recommendations early next year but in the meantime they will inform me if they see the need for any action earlier.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has received from the United States Food and Drug Administration concerning the safety of aspartame; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerMy officials have received information on the safety of aspartame from a number of sources including those originating in the United States of America. This information, together with new data produced and collected since aspartame was approved in this country seven years ago, is currently being considered by the independent Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT).
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a compulsory health warning on products containing aspartame; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe use of aspartame in a food product will appear in the ingredients list. There is no general health hazard arising from the use of this sweetener; the small number of people who suffer from phenylkentonuria and should therefore not ingest aspartame have access to advice from their doctors to avoid products containing it.