HC Deb 09 February 1988 vol 127 cc198-9W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he is having with manufacturers of meat and fish products into the case for bacteria testing; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Currie

The food industry is well aware of its responsibilities in law to sell only food which is fit for human consumption. End product testing is not an effective or efficient means of ensuring food safety: absolute assurance could come only from examination of every end product item. Much more reliance is placed on quality assurance through hygienic production using sound ingredients: manufacturers and enforcement agencies therefore undertake random sampling.