§ Sir Hal MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many farms were involved in outbreaks of salmonella attributed by him to eggs; and in what parts of the country they are located.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[holding answer 19 December 1988]: At the request of medical colleagues in 1988, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food investigated 22 farms which were suspected as a possible source of eggs involved in 17 outbreaks of salmonella food poisoning. In some of these outbreaks more than one farm could have been the source of the eggs. On only seven farms was the same salmonella serotype to that involved in the food poisoning outbreaks isolated. The seven farms concerned are located in Kent, Sussex, Dorset, Hertfordshire, Yorkshire and Humberside.
690WResponsibility for the application of the directive lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
The World Health Organisation has set guidelines for aluminium and sulphate in drinking water of 0.2 milligrams per litre and 400 milligrams per litre respectively. Aluminium and its salts are of low toxicity and these values are not based on health effects but on risks of discolouration from aluminium and unpalatability from sulphate at higher concentrations.