§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will indicate the number of victims in the north Wales salmonella poisoning outbreak; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the outbreak of salmonella poisoning in north Wales;
(3) what consultations he has had with the Clwyd area health authority concerning the outbreak in Clwyd of salmonella poisoning; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the cause and extent of the food poisoning outbreak in north Wales, and north Cheshire-Wirral area.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerOn the latest available information, there have been 43 cases of food poisoning in north Wales caused by salmonella typhimurium. Thirteen patients have been admitted to hospital in Clywd and one has died. I understand, again on the latest available information, that 52 cases of food poisoning in England caused by salmonella typhimurium, relating to this outbreak, have been reported to the Department of Health. Ten patients have been admitted to hospital and one has died.
Infection was identified on 26 July in cold cooked meat produced by Joss Williams and Sons of Flint. Its production of cooked meat ceased on 26 July and previous supplies were withdrawn from sale.
On 26 and 27 July my chief medical officer issued details of the retail outlets in north Wales and the north-west of England, which reportedly were supplied with cold cooked meats from Joss Williams and Sons. The public have been advised not to eat any cold cooked meals purchased from sources supplied by this firm, and wholesalers and retailers have been advised to remove such products from sale.
Information is being conveyed to environmental health departments in England and Wales as it becomes available to enable them to take appropriate action.
The Department has been in close touch with the Clwyd health authority since being informed of the situation on 24 July.