asked the Minister for Health whether he will introduce legislation to compel manufacturers of sausages to observe certain minimum standards of ingredients, and to oblige all retail sellers of sausages to exhibit notices easily readable by customers showing the ingredients of all sausages offered for sale.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ingredients of Sausages.
2.
Mr. Ryan
As the Deputy has perhaps experienced, foods of this kind are bought not so much for their nutritive content as for their taste and flavour and other qualities which appeal to the palate. In any event, as I indicated in reply to a Parliamentary Question on this matter recently, I take the view that the provisions under which I am empowered to fix standards for foods are specifically limited in their application to foods which are of special importance to the public health and I consider that it would be an abuse of my powers to attempt to use these provisions to establish a standard minimal meat content for sausages.
There is a better skin on that reply than there is on some of the sausages.
In view of the widespread use of sausages, is the Minister satisfied that the meat contained in sausages generally sold in this country is sufficient to warrant their purchase by the public?
It is a matter of opinion. As I pointed out, sausages are bought more because they are tasty than that they are sustaining, and I think it would be quite impossible for any person to determine what is the nutritive content of any particular sausage.
Does it not seem strange that the Minister prescribes minimum standards for ice cream, which is surely bought as a non-essential foodstuff, and yet has no minimum for sausages?
In the case of ice cream, the question of adulteration enters into it.
It applies to sausages just as well.
They are not adulterated to give the appearance of having a heavy milk content.
Or a very heavy meat content.
Some people do not like sausages with a heavy meat content.
Sometimes there is quite a lot of sawdust in them.
I have never eaten that sort.
It is a hot dog.