Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the threat of cancer from acrylamide in (a) food and (b) tobacco smoke.

Since the mid-2000s, when acrylamide was first highlighted as a food safety concern, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has worked with industry and European counterparts to mitigate the risks of acrylamide to consumers. It has developed a Code of Practice for food businesses; provided local authorities with guidance to ensure business compliance; and worked with catering establishments to reduce acrylamide formation during food preparation.

The FSA continues to take an active role in European Union/United Kingdom negotiations to develop a process for setting regulatory limits for acrylamide in certain products such as those intended for infants and young children.

The EU does not include acrylamide in its list of priority additives contained in cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco that are subject to enhanced reporting obligations under the EU Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU).

The best way to reduce the risk from tobacco smoke is to reduce smoking. The UK is a world leader in tobacco control, with a comprehensive programme to reduce smoking prevalence, including fiscal measures, a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion, smoke free mass media campaigns, action to tackle illegal tobacco and evidence-based support for smokers to quit.

In recent years, adult smoking prevalence has been declining at an accelerated rate and the government is working with partners across the healthcare system towards the achievement of a smoke free generation.