Volume 4: The Southwood Working Party, 1988-89
8. Subsequent events
Contents of baby food

8.1 On 20 December Dr Pickles sent a minute to Mr Laurie Weir (who headed a small food safety branch at DH). ¹ She explained that the Working Party was concerned about brain and lymphoid tissue taken from subclinical but infected cows. Young animals seemed particularly sensitive to spongiform encephalopathies and the Working Party wished to find out whether the brain, spleen or any other lymphoid tissues ever ended up in baby broths. She asked Mr Weir to find out what the practice was as regards such offal in baby broths or other mushy baby food.

8.2 On 17 January Dr Pickles wrote to Sir Richard:

We do not seem to be getting anywhere with the ingredients of baby food. It seems as if the use of offal is permitted and would have to be labelled in the usual way. But we do not know if this takes place in practice. ²

8.3 On 24 January Sir Richard wrote to Mr Lawrence stating in relation to that part of the draft Report dealing with baby food:

. . . I have simply advised the manufacturers against incorporating offal, but it may be this is too precise since liver is I think an important part of several such foods. ³

The circumstances in which this advice was embodied in the Report are discussed at paragraphs 10.42 and following below.