HC Deb 03 July 1989 vol 156 cc7-8W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the research projects directly aimed at(a) finding the causes of salmonella enteriditis, botulism and other similar infections such as salmonella typhimurium and (b) the treatment and or vaccination of poultry flocks.

Mr. Ryder

Research on the causes of human infections is a matter for the Department of Health. My Department however funds the following work aimed at minimising the risk of infection through the food chainPredictive Modelling of the Growth of Pathogenic Microorganisms in Food Systems. A co-ordinated programme of research into the growth and survival of microorganisms in real food systems. The development of a modelling database and expert system for eventual use by the food industry. The programme will initially concentrate on those food-related microorganisms that are of major public health significance: Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes and other Salmonella and Clostridium species. Other Research involving Salmonella enteriditis, Salmonella typhimurium, Clostridium botulinum. Risk and Hazard Analysis in egg infections. Thermal destruction of Salmonella enteriditis phase type 4 in the domestic cooking of food containing eggs. Use of Non-radioctive DNA probes for the detection of pathogenic Bacteria in food. Enzyme-linked immunological Biosensors for detection and identification of Pathogenic Bacteria in food. Determination of Food Constituents and contaminants by ELISA. Heat induced thermotolerance in food Poisoning organisms. Survey of Bacteriological Quality of goats milk. Lysozyme destruction of Gram negative organisms in Chicken and Red meat. Bacteriological Hazards of large meat roasts in catering and long storage of chilled foods in catering. Detection and quantification of microorganisms in foods by novel lectin-based assays. An investigation into the use of biosorbants for the concentration, separation and detection of low levels of food contaminants with special reference to pathogenic microorganisms such as Salmonella. Guidelines for Pasteurisation. Develop and investigate novel methods to separate and concentrate microorganisms from food to enhance rapid microbiological methods. Development of design nucleic acid probes for the rapid detection of food microorganisms. Serological diagnosis of Salmonella enteritidis infection. Plasmid profile analysis of S. enteriditis. Development of a Salmonella enteritidis infection Vaccine to prevent Salmonella infections in chickens. Salmonella Service: Bacteria typing, Surveillance and work under the Protein Processing Order. Work being carried out under the Zoonosis Order and in collaboration with the Public Health Laboratory Service. Factors Determining Intestinal colonization by Salmonella. Investigating the basis of Virulence of the Salmonella genus. Variation in virulence of Salmonellas, Host Responses to infection, Novel Vaccines and Strategies for Use. Salmonellosis in Cattle—to determine the epidemiology in order that methods to minimize the spread of and effects of infection can be formulated and applied.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the specific arrangements for the monitoring of possible salmonella enteriditis or typhimurium, botulism and other infections in(a) animal feedingstuffs, (b) eggs and (c) poultry.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Monitoring for the presence of salmonella eneteriditis and typhimurium in animal feedingstuffs is already carried out on a voluntary basis by many manufacturers. The Government are shortly to introduce voluntary codes of practice which require the monitoring of animal feedingstuffs and raw materials used in their manufacture. Poultry laying flocks are subject to compulsory monitoring with similar provisions to be introduced shortly for breeding flocks and hatcheries. There is no requirement to monitor for botulism toxin because botulism toxin occurs in isolated pockets and would not readily be detected.

As regards other infections, investigations are carried out by the state veterinary service at veterinary investigation centres on material submitted from private veterinary practices and other sources.