§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research projects his Ministry is(a) carrying out or (b) funding into the effect of food irradiation on (i) pesticide residues, (ii) food additives and (iii) packaging; and if he will give in each case the name of the research establishment, duration of project and cost of project.
§ Mr. GummerThe following projects are being carried out or funded by my Ministry.
- Effects of irradiation on pesticide residues
- Research Establishment: MAFF Food Science Laboratory (Norwich)
- Duration: 3 years
- Cost: £137,000
- Experimental determination of radiation doses absorbed in food contact materials
- Research Establishment: AEA Technology, Harwell
- Duration: 9 months
- Cost: £15,200
My Ministry also funded a project on "A comparison of the effects of gamma and electron beam irradiation on additives present in food contact polymers" at Sheffield university over three years to September 1991 at a cost of £36,000. Other projects on irradiation of packaging material carried out between 1984 and 1988 are described in Food Surveillance Paper No. 26, "Migration of Substances from Food Contact Materials into Food" (HMSO, 1989). The results of all this research have been or will be published in the scientific literature.