HC Deb 08 November 1989 vol 159 cc673-4W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he has taken or he plans to take to ensure that breeding flocks in other European Community countries known to be contaminated with salmonella enteriditis become free of this bacteria; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

I am pressing for the adoption of Community measures to tackle the problem of salmonella in poultry flocks.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence to link salmonella typhimurium with the contamination of eggs, and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

Salmonella typhimurium is known to be present in some poultry laying flocks and, like Salmonella enteritidis, has the potential to contaminate eggs. This can arise in a number of ways including contamination of the shell by infected faeces as the egg is laid and subsequent penetration into the egg contents. The evidence supporting this view was upheld by the Select Committee on Agriculture in its first report on salmonella in eggs published in February 1989.