§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what grounds the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food refused to prosecute 21 poultry feed processing plants found to contain salmonella in 1987, and a further 17 plants in 1988; where each plant was located; and how the salmonella came to be there.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonIf the sampling of a protein processing plant's product reveals salmonella contamination, a notice is served requiring compliance with the bacteriological standard within a time limit. Failure to comply without lawful authority or excuse constitutes an offence. In 1987 and 1988, in each case where salmonella contamination was still found on re-sampling it was not considered to be deliberate failure and it was therefore not appropriate to bring prosecutions. In each of these cases subsequent tests indicated that freedom from salmonella had been achieved. It is not known where the contamination originated in each of these instances but it is recognised that salmonella organisms are widespread in the environment.
Details about protein processing plants are held by my department in order to carry out inspections as provided for by statute and it would be wrong to disclose such data, including information on the location of individual plants, for purposes other than those for which it was collected.