HC Deb 27 October 1953 vol 518 cc354-5W
Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health how many attacks of food poisoning have been notified during 1953, to the nearest available date; and if he will tabulate the information so as to give the causal organism; the type of food that was contaminated; the numbers of people involved; and the place or institution in which the outbreak occurred.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The table below gives the number of outbreaks of food poisoning in England and Wales notified to me between 1st January and 21st October, 1953, by medical officers of health and the number of persons affected in them according to the causal organism, type of food and the place where the outbreak occurred.

Outbreaks Persons Affected
Causal Organism
Salmonella group 117 2,302
Staphylococci group 61 2,118
C1. Welchii 11 461
Miscellaneous 14 134
Unknown 97 951
300 5,966
Type of food
Meat and meat products. 109 2,605
Fish and fish products 12 75
Duck eggs 12 15
Milk and milk products 20 1,775
Miscellaneous 15 58
Vehicle of infection not established 132 1,438
300 5,966
Place of outbreak
Hotels, catering establishments, etc. 24 292
Schools 28 1,970
Factory canteens 17 467
Camps 2 181
Hospitals 16 405
Local authority institutions 3 319
At home 132 1,418
Other places 12 470
Unknown 66 444
300 5,966