§ 52. Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Health what tests are made on imported liquid egg to ascertain that it is free of disease; and what have been the results of recent tests.
§ Mr. BraineNo liquid egg has been imported recently. As regards frozen whole egg in bulk, samples are taken at the ports for bacteriological examination. During the first quarter of this year, 89 tons were detained out of 3,050.
§ 55. Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Health how long it will take to complete the consultations concerning the pasteurisation of all frozen liquid egg in bulk imparted from China; and what will be done with the liquid frozen egg now in this country until the necessary precautions are taken.
§ Mr. BraineI cannot yet say. Unless pasteurised, it will be held in store or recalled.
§ Mr. Taverneasked the Minister of Health how many shipments of Chinese frozen liquid eggs have arrived in England since October, 1962; at which ports these shipments arrived, and on which dates; which shipments have been associated with outbreaks of paratyphoid B, and in which areas; and what results were obtained from the sampling of the eggs in these shipments before their distribution to bakeries.
§ Mr. BraineEight shipments; London, 25th October 12th and 29th November, 4th, 12th and 28th December, 1962, 4th and 12th April, 1963; the third, fourth and fifth shipments; Sutton and Cheam and Carshalton, Cambridge and Yorks; out of 1082.5 tons, 150.25 were detained. Sampling results for the last shipment are not yet known.