§ Lord Hunter of Newingtonasked the Leader of the House:
What was the result of investigations into the cause of the recent outbreak of food poisoning in the House.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Belstead)The report from the Medical Officer for Environmental Health for the City of Westminster has now been received, and a copy has been placed in the Library. Included with the report are reports from the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre on their epidemiological investigation and from the City of Westminster Environmental Services Department on the kitchens and Refreshment Department. I am most grateful to all concerned for their thorough investigations.
The cause of the outbreak was found to be Salmonella typhimurium DT 49, and the vehicle by which infection was caused was egg-based products, in particular mayonnaise. The report does not recommend any change in the source of eggs supplied to the House, but does make recommendations on kitchen procedures to minimise the possibility of other outbreasks.
Standards in the Refreshment Department were commended as high. It was nevertheless noted that the layout and cramped conditions, particularly in the kitchens, did not allow ideal routines to be developed. It was recommended that the House should consider extending and redesigning the kitchen.
The Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department met on Tuesday, 14th June to consider the report and the action to be taken. Proposals for alteration of the kitchens in the light of the report's recommendations will be brought forward as a matter of urgency. All other changes of routine recommended in the report have already been implemented.