HC Deb 19 January 1989 vol 145 cc300-2W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to ensure the public can safely consume cook-chill food from supermarkets that store such food in systems that contravene his Department's 1980 guidelines.

Mr. Freeman

This Department, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the food industry, is drawing up guidelines for cooked-chilled manufactured food sold from retail outlets. The proposed guidelines will cover storage and display conditions and will take account as appropriate of the recommendations in the Department's existing guidelines on pre-cooked chilled catering foods.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking following the publication of the results of a survey into food hygiene in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales undertaken by the Institution of Environmental Health Officers which indicated that the cook-chill processes in 19 per cent, of the hospitals surveyed between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988 did not comply with his Department's 1980 guidelines.

Mr. Freeman

Health authorities have been asked to provide information on standards of hygiene in their kitchens including those involving cook-chill and this will be carefully considered for further action.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many members of the Yorkshire regional health authority have declared a pecuniary interest in cook-chill catering; and when these interests were declared;

(2) how many members of the Wakefield district health autority have declared a pecuniary interest in cook-chill catering; and when these interests were declared.

Mr. Freeman

None. But as recorded in the DHA minutes, one member of Wakefield health authority gave notice on 25 November that he had received an invitation to join/advise a company specialising in 100 per cent, sterile food. I understand the company currently operates on the continent but has plans to undertake marketing trials in the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he is giving to Calderdale health authority on cook-chill in the light of the recent new evidence on listeria.

Mr. Freeman

The advice contained in the 1970 guidelines on cook-freeze catering, as amended by the guidelines on pre-cooked chilled foods published in 1980, is still operational. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health said in his reply of 14 December to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) at column601 are satisfied that provided these guidelines are carefully followed, microbiologically sound food will be produced.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if it is possible for cook-chill food to be supplied from the private sector to National Health Service hospitals with food production units within the requirements of his Department's 1980 guidelines on cook-chill food.

Mr. Freeman

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 17 January at column114

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield of 16 January 1988, the public health laboratory service of cook-chill food has included food supplied to hospital patients.

Mr. Freeman

The public health laboratory service survey referred to in my reply of 16 January at column 43 includes cook-chill food supplied by NHS hospitals.