§ Mr. AitkenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning in the period for which most recent figures are available were caused by fresh cream or egg products.
§ Mr. FreemanIn the first three quarters of 1989, 32 outbreaks of food poisoning, comprising 426 known cases, associated with eating egg or egg products were reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre by laboratories and local authorities in England and Wales. Thirty of these were due to salmonella infection. No outbreaks associated with eating cream were recorded.
In 1988, 39 outbreaks of food poisoning, comprising 741 known cases, associated with eating egg or egg products were recorded by CDSC. Thirty-five of these were due to salmonella infection. Five outbreaks in the same period comprising 73 known cases, were associated with eating cream, including at least one outbreak associated with eating pasteurised cream. Three of these were due to salmonella infection.