§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice his Department is giving the public on the peeling and topping of carrots before they are consumed; what is the reason for that advice; and what are the methods used to communicate the advice; [114418]
(2) what advice his Department is giving the public on peeling apples before they are consumed; and what is the reason for that advice and the methods used to communicate the advice; [114348]
62W
Minister Country Date Purpose Minister of State for Public Health Netherlands/ Luxembourg 3–6 June 1997 Visit to European Union Health Council Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons) Belgium 4–5 June 1997 Visit to European Parliament Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Commons) Austria 16–18 June 1997 Attendance at Council of Europe XVth Conference of Family Ministers and other engagements Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Commons) Belgium 23–25 October 1997 Attendance at Young People's Conference on Sexual Health Minister of State for Public Health France 24 November 1997 Meeting with French Health Minister Minister of State for Public Health Belgium 3–4 December 1997 European Union Health Council Meeting Secretary of State Denmark 26 February-1 March 1998 Visit to World Health Organisation and other engagements Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lords) USA 4–7 March 1998 Attendance at External Advisory Panel for Health, Nutrition and Population Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Commons) Belgium 8–10 March 1998 European Union Health Council meeting Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Commons) Belgium 24–26 March 1998 European Union Health Council meeting Secretary of State Belgium 22 April 1998 Visit to European Parliament to address Health Committee Minister of State for Public Health Belgium 22 April 1998 Visit to European Parliament to address Health Committee Minister of State for Public Health Luxembourg 29–30 April 1998 Meeting of the European Union Health Council Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lords) France 11 May 1998 Meeting of the Club of Three sub group Minister of State for Public Health Switzerland 12–13 May 1998 Attendance at World Health Assembly Secretary of State Germany 3–4 June 1998 Attendance at Social Services Conference Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Commons) Sweden 16–17 June 1998 Attendance at presentation of the FINSAM Project and other engagements Secretary of State France 22–23 June 1998 Representing HM Government at England vs Romania World Cup match Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Commons) Australia 9–20 July 1998 Fact finding mission on mental health issues Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Commons) Sweden 23-–5 September 1998 Keynote speech at 50th anniversary Swedish social services conference Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Commons) Germany 3–5 October 1998 British Council seminar Secretary of State South Africa 3–18 October 1998 Combined official visit to South Africa to support Department for International Development projects and pursue bilateral health relations Secretary of State USA 21–23 October 1998 Attendance at International Symposium on Health and other engagements (3) which fruits and vegetables apart from apples and carrots his Department is advising the public to peel before consuming; what is the reason for that advice; and what are the methods used to communicate the advice. [114347]
§ Ms StuartStudies recommended by the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides have found variable levels of pesticide residues in some fruit and vegetables. In response to these findings, the following advice from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer was issued in Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) News Release 83/97 and in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Department of Health Food Safety Information Bulletin for December 1998
washing fruit and vegetables before consumption is always a sensible precaution to ensure it is clean. Peeling is a matter of consumer choice, but is a sensible additional precaution when preparing fruit and vegetables for small childrenThis precautionary advice remains relevant and is used by Government Departments in responding to inquiries about pesticide residues in food.