§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the ban was implemented on the use of mineral hydrocarbons in food manufacture; and what were the reasons for the ban. [20697]
§ Mrs. BrowningRestrictions on the use of mineral hydrocarbons in food have been in place since at least 1949. The current regulations came into force in 1966. These are based on the general principle applying to the use of all food additives, that they should be permitted only under strict control and where there is a demonstrated technological need, and take account of the duty of Ministers to have regard to the desirability of restricting so far as practicable the use of substances of no nutritional value as ingredients of food.