HC Deb 19 December 1988 vol 144 cc35-6W
Mr. Pendry

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to collect statistics on how many eggs are infected with salmonella enteritidis in each parliamentary constituency, starting with the constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde.

Mr. Ryder

The number of eggs which have been found to be contaminated with salmonells enteritidis to date is very small, particularly when compared with the enormous number of eggs consumed in this country. In these circumstances, it would be impossible to produce any meaningful statistics without sampling on a vast scale. A far more fruitful use of resources are the investigations which my officials conduct into salmonella outbreaks on farms associated with cases of food poisoning.

Sir Hal Miller

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek powers to restrict the movement of eggs off farms where salmonella has been found to be present.

Mr. Ryder

The powers to restrict the movement of animals, birds or their products, including eggs, from any place where salmonella has been found present already exist in the Zoonoses Order 1975. I am currently reviewing all the options for reducing the incidence of salmonella in poultry, including the effectiveness of this legislation.

Mr. Rooker

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of egg producers whose products have been identified as the cause of food poisoning in the past three years.

Mr. Ryder

This information is a matter of confidence between the producers and Government. All reported cases are investigated by my officials, who provide advice to producers on the control of disease and measures to prevent recurrence.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the results of the research work commissioned by the Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives into eggs and salmonella.

Mr. Ryder

I can confirm that the agricultural development and advisory service has undertaken research into egg nutrient content and physical quality funded by the Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives. Disclosure of the findings of this research is, however, normally a matter for the customer to decide, under the standard commercial terms and conditions adopted for ADAS contact research and development projects.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in establishing the cause of the salmonella infections of turkeys, chickens and eggs; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder

Salmonella organisms are widespread in the environment. The problem has been recognised for very many years. The potential for contamination is known to exist at various stages of the production chain.