Written question asked by Janet Anderson (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 May 2003. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Monday, 12 May 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Food Standards Agency has spent in the last two years on research into (a) Basmati rice, (b) balsamic vinegar and (c) sodium alternatives.

Answer: Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Food Standards Agency has spent in the last two years on research into (a) Basmati rice, (b) balsamic vinegar and (c) sodium alternatives. [111206] Ms Blears: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has funded five projects over the past two years on Basmati rice. Three projects dealt with improving and evaluating an innovative DNA method used to check adulteration of Basmati rice. One has applied electronic nose technology to determine sensory properties more accurately and a fifth has applied a new DNA approach to authenticating Basmati rice. The total spend over the two years has been £148, 217. The FSA is funding a project on a method to check speciality vinegars, a part of which includes balsamic vinegar. The spend so far has been £15, 661, but it is not possible to apportion specifically the spend on balsamic vinegar. There have been no projects funded which deal with sodium alternatives during this period.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 111206; 405 c105W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Expenditure Food Food Standards Agency Research Testing Rice Vinegar
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk