§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the number of brains of calves aged under six months which are entering the food chain; and what steps are taken to ensure that these animals have not been fed contaminated offal.
§ Mr. SoamesThe feeding of ruminant derived protein to all cattle and other ruminants has been banned since July 1988.
There is no scientific justification for banning the use of brains from calves under six months of age because of BSE; this judgment has been supported by the spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee and by international bodies such as the European Commission and the Office International Dee Epizooties. Nevertheless, under the meat products and spreadable fish products regulations 1984, brain may not be used in uncooked meat products nor may it be counted as meat in cooked products. Its use in practice, therefore, is thought to be minimal.