§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the health risks from meat sold as fresh which has previously been frozen; [7361]
652W(2) how he ensures that the public are informed of health risks from meat sold as fresh which had previously been frozen. [7364]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe law currently requires the name of a food to include reference to its physical condition or treatment—for example, frozen—if omission of such information would mislead the consumer.
The health risks associated with meat which has been previously frozen are no greater than those from meat which has not been previously frozen. Provided the meat is cooked thoroughly and kept free from cross-contamination after cooking, it will be safe to eat. The long-standing Government advice has been widely disseminated in Government publicity on food safety for many years.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received to restore the requirement that meat sold as fresh which had previously been frozen should be clearly so labelled; [7365]
(2) what are the legal requirements on meat retailers concerning the specific labelling of meat sold as fresh which had previously been frozen; [7363]
(3) what guidance he has issued to meat retailers concerning the labelling of meat sold as fresh which had previously been frozen. [7366]
§ Mrs. BrowningSpecific labelling requirements for meat and offal previously frozen were removed at the behest of the EC Commission as being at variance with harmonised EC labelling rules. No representations have been received seeking their restoration. None the less, the law currently requires the name of a food to include reference to its physical condition or treatment—for example, previously frozen—if omission of such information would mislead the purchaser. We shall be adding to the guidance notes on the food labelling regulations further advice on the way food processes and treatments should be indicated.