HC Deb 14 November 1988 vol 140 cc478-9W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health why new guidelines on cook-chill catering, which his Department's chief environmental health officer said should have been published in August, have not yet been published.

Mrs. Currie

Because they are not yet ready.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to introduce legislation limiting the length of retention and storage of cook-chill food products.

Mrs. Currie

No. Food legislation already places on those who sell or produce food a responsibility to ensure that the food is fit for human consumption and it is for them to make sure that their production and handling procedures are within the law.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department is planning to undertake an in-depth assessment of the microbiological safety of cook-chill catering with particular reference to listeria; and whether, in view of the alleged risks with this catering system, he will suspend its implementation in the National Health Service while this assessment takes place.

Mrs. Currie

Microbiological studies of food produced by the cook-chill process have been carried out within the public health laboratory service and are continuing. We keep the need for further action under review. Current guidance stresses the need for health authorities to seek appropriate professional advice when planning to introduce cook-chill catering.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time scientific officers employed in the public health laboratory service are also running private laboratories engaged in research into cook-chill catering.

Mrs. Currie

None.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what previous involvement Mr. Brian Hayward, the newly-appointed chairman of the Wakefield health authority, had with the expert group investigating the introduction of cook-chill catering during his membership of the Yorkshire regional health authority.

Mrs. Currie

Mr. Hayward chaired the group of experts set up by Yorshire regional health authority to investigate the safety and implementation of cook chill catering. We are grateful to Mr. Hayward for his service in this respect.