§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation compelling assistants in food shops to use tongs and/or paper in selecting cooked foods in all establishments, and ensuring that all assistants should be provided with caps or head coverings in in the interest of hygiene.
§ Mr. AlisonAmong other things, the Food Hygiene Regulations require food handlers to take all such steps as may be reasonably necessary to protect food from risk of contamination and to keep themselves clean. They also require implements to be kept clean. My Department advocates the use of tongs and other suitable implements where appropriate and wearing of suitable head covering, but the regulations already provide an effective legal safeguard against the risk of contamination of food.