asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the British Government have decided to ban the use in food of mineral oils; if such oils are used in Ireland in the making of bread, confectionery, jellies, sausages and some cheeses; if his attention has further been drawn to evidence that these oils accumulated in the liver and the organs of animals are potentially dangerous; and the action he proposes to take in this matter in so far as the Irish market is concerned.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Mineral Oils.
5.
I am aware that the British Government are considering proposals to further limit the use of mineral oils in food. The new proposals would not, in any event, constitute a total ban on their use in Britain. In this country the use of mineral oils in foods is prohibited by the Health (Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food) Regulations, 1972, except in certain circumstances and subject to very strict conditions including maximum permitted levels of usage.
The whole question of the use of mineral hydrocarbons in food is currently being considered by the EC and we will be participating directly in this review. The Department of Health are monitoring the situation closely in the meantime and if a further restriction on the use of mineral oils is considered to be warranted, I will have no hesitation in introducing such controls.