§ 45. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Health to what extent frozen eggs sampled at the ports have been found to be infected with germs likely to cause food poisoning; from which countries the infected consignments come ; whether frozen eggs in shell are suspect; and what action is being taken to safeguard consumers here more thoroughly.
§ Mr. TurtonShipments of imported frozen egg are being sampled and only batches with negative samples have been released without conditions. During the last twelve months infected samples have been found in some of the shipments from China, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The degree of infection has varied widely from 1 to 30 per cent. of the samples.
The sampling is continuing. My Department is in close touch with the importers and communicates with the authorities in the exporting countries as necessary. They are all concerned to maintain a high bacteriological standard. I have no knowledge of any import of frozen eggs in shell.