HC Deb 13 March 1989 vol 149 cc78-9W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there is a risk to the consumer of cook-chill food when his Department's 1980 guidelines are not followed.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 27 February at column69.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cook-chill products examined recently by the public health laboratory set vice were found to contain salmonella.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The survey conducted recently by the public health laboratory service was to test for the presence of listeria monocytogenes and not for salmonella. However, out of 197 retail ready to eat cooked-chilled poultry and chilled and frozen retail ready-to-eat meals four were found to be positive for salmonella.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has conducted or commissioned into why so many cook-chill products contain listeria monocytogenes; and with what results.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

My Department has not carried out any research into why listeria monocytogenes is contained in some cook-chill products. We are working with the food industry to produce a code of practice designed to minimise the possibility of contamination of cook-chill products with listeria monocytogenes.