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needed about the presence of lead and other toxic substances in children's toys and paints, which
children are likely to suck or chew. It is believed that lead and mercury are causing more ill-health
among children than was formerly recognised The Committee have also been asked to examine the
whole subject of food preservatives.
Colouring Matter in Food Regulations
The Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1957 were considered and the Food Standards
Committee issued a report making recommendations for amendments to these regulations. The
Ministry is now adopting the policy of keeping Statutory Instruments constantly under review and
amending them, if necessary, fairly frequently. It is now suggested that six of the existing food
colours should be withdrawn from the list, that titanium dioxide should be permitted only for the
surface colouring of food, that the colouring of citrus fruit should be forbidden, and that specifications
of purity should be introduced On the other hand it is suggested that another black colour
should be provisionally added to the permitted list and that two named carotenoids should be permitted.
It is noted that no organic blue colour will now be permitted in food if the recommendations
are adoptedand it is a remarkable thing that no natural food appears to be coloured blue..
Probably the most important proposed piece of legislation is the suggestion that the control
of foods should be separated from that of drugs and that the whole of drug legislation should be
brought under one main umbrella. The present proposals would, however, retain many of the present
anomalies of control and doubtless more consideration will be given to this in the near future.
During the year The Food Standings Committee issued a Report on Food Labelling and,
although the recommendations included some 72 provisions, there is little doubt that many of the
proposals will have to be modified.
The Meat (Treatment) Regulations. 1964, prohibit the addition of ascorbic acid, erythorbic
acid, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, and any of their salts or derivatives to raw and unprocessed
meat intended for human consumption. Unfortunately the definition of the word "processed" does
not clarify exactly whether products such as sausages and salamis would be considered as processed
or not.
Proposals were issued for canned meat products and also for meat pies. Doubtless many of
these proposals are being contested behind the scenes, but it will be a great advantage if the
drafts can come into force without too much amendment.
The Dried Milk Regulations, 1964, come into operation on the 11th March, 1965.The chief
modifications introduced are the maximum and minimum percentages of milk fat required for grades
of milk powder other than full cream powder, and regulations for the labelling of such products.
There is also a proposal to amend the present Skimmed Milk with Non-Fat Regulations, 1960.
During the year the Ministry issued a provisional method for the testing of milk for the
presence of antibiotics. It is very seldom, however, that the presence of antibiotics can be proved
in bulk milk.
Fresh Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations were issuedduring the year. Besides increasing
the amount of paraffin hydrocarbons permitted in or on foods, they also lay down specifications
for the quality of such hydrocarbons The difficulty of enforcing in Great Britain regulations
regarding the quality of liquid paraffin employed for coating citrus or dried prunes, currants,
sultanas or rasins in other countries will be appreciated.
The Soft Drinks Regulations, 1963, which should have come into force in 1964, were revoked
and replaced by the Soft Drinks Regulations, 1964, which will come into operation on the 2nd June,