HC Deb 13 December 1989 vol 163 c693W
Mr. Colvin

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ban the importation of plants from Holland in order to control the spread of Liriomyza huidobrensis among plants;

(2) what compensation is proposed for those growers compelled to destroy crops infested with Liriomyza huidobrensis;

Title Contractor Status
1. The performance of Microwave Ovens for Cooking and Reheating Foods. Mr. M. Duncan Completed
2. Microwave Reheating Of Ready Meals IFR-Bristol Completed
3. Destruction of Listeria monocytogenes during Microwave Cooking. IFR-Norwich Completed
4. Effect of Microwave Cooking on Survival of Listria Monocytogenes in Cook-Chill Retail Products. CFDRA Completed
5. Testing the Uniformity and Reproducibility of Reheating in Domestic Microwave Oven. IFR-Bristol Completed
6. The Influence of the Physical, and Electrical Properties on the Quality of Foods Heated by Microwaves. CFDRA On-going

The position is still being evaluated and further research will be commissioned as necessary.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to eliminate the use of microwaves designed for domestic use in commercial premises.

Mr. Maclean

My officials are holding urgent discussions with the Institution of Environmental Health Officers to establish how far this practice creates a problem, and with a view to taking whatever steps may be necessary to make sure that caterers have the right equipment to avoid any risk to food safety.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has become of the microwave ovens donated by manufacturers to facilitate the study recently completed by his Department.

Mr. Maclean

The microwave ovens do not belong to my Department as they were made available to the researchers by the manufacturers. Their fate is a matter for discussion between the manufacturers and the researchers at Bristol.

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