HC Deb 08 March 1990 vol 168 c847W
69. Mr. Harris

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking with regard to meat reconstituted with blood plasma gel.

Mr. Maclean

Should a company decide to use this technique for the preparation of meat products it would need to ensure that the product was safe and labelled in accordance with the Food Labelling Regulations 1984. This would apply equally to home-produced and imported products. In particular, those regulations require that food labels carry details of any process which the product has undergone where the omission of such detail would mislead the consumer, details of any ingredients used in the product which would include blood enzymes, and a name for the food which would distinguish it from any other foodstuff with which it might be confused.

Misleading labelling of food is an offence under the Food Act 1984. It is not for me to suggest particular forms of words for labels. A company would need to decide what description of this or any similar process would adequately explain to its intended customers the exact nature of the foodstuff. Trading standards officers are responsible for enforcing the law: I expect that they were already aware of the development of this process but my officials have drawn the matter to their attention.

The labelling rules apply equally to catering supplies as they do to retail sales. As part of its current labelling review I have already asked the Food Advisory Committee to look at the difficult matter of information provided to customers in restaurants, cafes or other catering outlets.

I was made aware only recently of the process that has been developed in the Netherlands but I have no indications that it produces a foodstuff which is unsafe.

The process has been developed by a very reputable Dutch institute and the data available so far to my Department do not indicate any need for us to enage in our own research.

It would be a commercial decision for a British company to choose to use this technique in the production of its meat products. I am not aware of any company that has so decided nor is it my understanding that any such products are currently being marketed in the United Kingdom, or in the Netherlands.

However, my Department is monitoring developments closely and I will take any further action that seems appropriate in the interests of either food safety or consumer protection.