asked the Minister for Agriculture whether any quantities of butter have been rejected by the Butter Marketing Committee since March, 1957, as being sub-standard; whether any of this butter has been resold to the public and, if so, how much; and what precaution he will take to prevent such sub-standard butter from being resold to the public.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sub-Standard Butter.
Relatively small quantities of butter have been rejected by the Butter Marketing Committee since March, 1957 for non-compliance in one way or another with regulations made under the Dairy Produce Act, 1924 but I am not aware that any of this butter that was unfit for table use was resold to the public. Butter which is found to be unfit for such use is disposed of for manufacturing purposes.
Would the Minister consider introducing some sort of colouring agent into butter rejected by the Butter Marketing Committee so that it will not be sold retail in the shops but will be disposed in the way suggested?
The reasons for rejecting whatever small quantity may be rejected are very frivolous, such as colouring, flavour, excess moisture, bad packaging and, in the main, nothing that might render the butter unsuitable for use in complete safety.
For human consumption?
Yes.