asked the Minister for Health what legislative provisions are in force in respect of marking on packaged foods the nature of the contents; if he is satisfied that these provisions are being obeyed; and, if not, if he will take immediate steps to deal with the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Packaged Foods.
57.
The Sale of Food and Drugs Acts 1875 to 1936 contain provisions requiring the labelling of certain foodstuffs, some of which may be packaged, to indicate the nature of their contents.
The items in question are milk-blended butter, margarine, margarine-cheese, imported, condensed or skimmed milk or packages or cans of adulterated or impoverished milk, cream or butter.
The Public Health (Saorstát Eireann) (Preservatives, etc. in Food) Regulations, 1928, require the presence of permitted preservatives to be declared in a limited range of foodstuffs.
So far as I am aware, the statutory requirements in question are being complied with.
In pursuance of my powers under Part V of the Health Act, 1947, I propose on the advice of the Food Advisory Committee, to introduce new regulations on the presence in food of preservatives, colouring matters, antioxidants and mineral hydrocarbons; all these will contain provisions regarding labelling declarations in certain cases.