§ Mr. John GreenwayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions he has taken to ensure food quality since the passing of the Food Safety Act 1990.
§ Mr. GummerI refer the hon. Member to the report by the food safety directorate on "Comparison of Methods for the Detection of Added Substances in Orange Juice". This report includes results of analyses of samples of orange juice purchased in this country. Although there is no food safety issue involved, it indicates that a large proportion of samples of the orange juice purchased did not fully match the description on the packaging. Laboratory analysis of the samples revealed widespread addition of sugars and other ingredients in orange juice sold as pure and unsweetened. Following the results of this 281W survey and in co-operation with local trading standards officers, who are generally responsible for enforcement, my officials are now carrying out further investigations into the sources of these wrongly described products. Enforcement authorities generally have been informed so that they can consider follow-up action in due course. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House.