§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to require eggs to carry Government health warnings;
(2) what advice his Department is issuing to employers and employees about eating eggs.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe matter must be kept in proportion. As a sensible precaution, those most at risk—the elderly, the sick, babies and pregnant women—should follow the advice of the chief medical officer and eat only eggs that have been cooked until the white and yolk are solid. However, the risk is very small and healthy people can continue to eat eggs cooked however they wish. We will continue to reassure people on these points as necessary.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give consideration to involving local government environmental health departments in the control of egg production.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeEnvironmental health departments of local authorities are responsible for environmental issues arising from egg production and for hygiene issues post-production.
We have asked them to assist in promulgating my Department's advice to manufacturers, caterers and consumers locally. We have no current plans to involve them in the control of egg production.