§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield on 2 February,Official Report, column 342, when his Department was first made aware of the information on the incidence of listeriosis contained in his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield on 20 February, Official Report, column 528.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information was given at the symposium referred to in my previous reply. My Department's officials attended the symposium.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department's 1980 guidelines on cook-chill food relate to the safe exclusion of listeria monocytogenes from food.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. These 1980 guidelines relate to cook-chill catering. We remain satisfied that food produced in accordance with these guidelines will be safe for the consumer and will protect against danger from listeria monocytogenes.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 528, how many cases of listeriosis were described by the consultant microbiologist from Plymouth health authority on 9 July 1988;
(2) how many of the patients in Plymouth referred to in his answer of 20 February, Official Report, column 528, developed the symptoms of listeriosis after their admission to hospital.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThese questions are a matter for the consultant microbiologist mentioned. He has confirmed to my officials that there is no evidence to suggest that any cases of listeriosis have arisen from the consumption of meals prepared by the cook-chill catering system used by the Plymouth health authority.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if the expert group which produced the 1980 guidelines on cook-chill food were aware of the potential risks of listeria from food.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 2 February at columns342–43.