asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) what steps he has taken to prevent the admixture of ullage with porter for sale to the public in Dublin, and (b) the number of samples of such beverages taken and analysed during the past 12 months, giving the date in each instance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Analysis of Beverages.
(a) I assume the Deputy means by the term "ullage" that quantity of porter which overflows from the glass into a container placed underneath in the course of filling and that the Deputy sees objection on the grounds of hygiene to the sale of this overflow.
I agree with the Deputy's implication that this practice unless safeguarded by appropriate hygienic arrangements for catchment and storage may render the liquor less pure than that directly drawn into the glass from the barrel as it comes from the brewer.
The hygienic control of the sale of porter, like that of other foodstuffs, is at present governed by the Public Health Acts, which provide that an officer of the sanitary authority may, if he finds any food which is offered or exposed for sale to be diseased, unsound or unwholesome or unfit for the food of man, seize such food and take legal proceedings against the vendor. In the case of certain commodities, including, I would suggest, porter, this enactment is rather difficult to enforce, as the contamination would have to be evident on merely ocular inspection, but the new food hygiene regulations which provide for the control of methods of preparation and handling of food and drink also provide machinery whereby any article of food or drink will be subject to closer and more exacting inspection, including, if necessary, and feasible, sampling and testing.
The regulations will shortly come into force and it is hoped that the local health authorities will pay special attention to the methods of serving porter and other liquid refreshment in bars so as to exclude, in so far as may be reasonably possible, the danger of contamination.
(b) In regard to the second part of the question no sampling and testing of porter has been carried out in Dublin during the past 12 months but it is understood that the brewers carry out frequent sampling of their produce as sold retail so as to ensure that their particular specific standards are maintained.
Is the Minister aware that no publican of repute and, as far as can be ascertained, no publican in Dublin indulges in the practice of mixing ullage with porter and selling it to his customers?