Protein-Processing Plants (Hansard, 10 January 1989)

§ Sir Richard Body
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers he has to order the destruction of bits and pieces of dead animals in protein-processing plants which are found by his officials to be contaminated by salmonella bacteria.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The Protein Processing Order 1981 requires all animal protein to be manufactured free from salmonella. The correct application of heat and other treatment in the course of processing destroys all salmonella organisms.
In cases where routine sampling and testing indicated the presence of salmonella, further testing is carried out until a salmonella free product is produced.

§ Sir Richard Body
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that no public funds by way of compensation for slaughtered laying hens will be given to any poultry business owning one of the protein-processing plants which his officials have found to be contaminated by salmonella bacteria within the last two years.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
No.

§ Sir Richard Body
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many protein-processing plants use bits and pieces of dead animals for the purpose of ultimately feeding laying hens.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
All protein processing plants producing animal protein use waste animal material in the manufacturing process. The animal protein is then used for incorporation into animal and poultry feedingstuffs including feed for laying hens.