John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 189: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if monosodium glutamate is in childhood vaccines; if it has affected obesity rates in children; the steps she proposes to reduce these rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23864/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Irish Medicines Board, IMB, which has statutory responsibility for licensing all pharmaceutical products for use in Ireland, has provided the following information regarding monosodium glutamate.

Monosodium Glutamate is contained in the BCG vaccine SSI and amino acids — monosodium glutamate is an amino acid — are present in Priorix, MMR vaccine. Residues of monosodium glutamate may be present as part of the manufacturing process but a detailed review of the manufacturing file would be necessary to determine this. Nevertheless, I am advised that the amount of monosodium glutamate present in the vaccines, if detectable at all, would only be present in tiny amounts and the effect on obesity in children would be minimal.

More generally, the national task force on obesity presented its report, Obesity — the Policy Challenges, to the Taoiseach on 16 May 2005. The report contains 93 recommendations. These relate to actions across six broad sectors: high level Government; education; social and community; health; food commodities — production and supply; and the physical environment. The report highlights the need for "joined-up" policy, cross-collaboration between all key stakeholders and real practical engagement by both the public and the private sectors.

My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power, will shortly present the report to Cabinet.