Food Poisoning (Hansard, 27 May 1993)

§ Mr. Wareing
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the European Community on the incidence of food poisoning; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Sackville
The United Kingdom plays an active role in regular discussions which take place in the European Community on a wide range of public health issues, including food hygiene and safety.

§ Mr. Wareing
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 261, what are the comparative figures for the incidence of food poisoning in each of the European Community countries for each of the last five years.

§ Mr. Sackville
There are no comparable figures available for other EC member states.

§ Mr. Wareing
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 261, if she will make a statement on who is being consulted and asked for evidence in respect of the new Government surveillance programme into the sources and causes of human foodborne illness; and what opportunity members of the public are being given to contribute their views.

§ Mr. Sackville
The steering group on the microbiological safety of food is responsible to the United Kingdom Health and Agriculture Ministers for the microbiological surveillance of food. The remit of the steering group and its working groups covers the whole food chain from primary production to consumption, with external membership drawn from the Public Health Laboratory Service, the national health service, environmental health departments, food research organisations, the food industry, veterinary science and consumers.
A major study referred to in the previous answer is an epidemiological study of sources and causes of infectious intestinal disease in England. This study will take place in some 70 practices in the Medical Research Council's general practice research framework and will involve more than 20,000 volunteers. This study is one of a number of carefully designed surveys that will provide a better scientific basis for understanding human foodborne illness. Ministers are advised on the significance of these and other results by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food.
I expect the first report of the steering group to be published later this year. Anyone who wishes to offer views about its activities is welcome to do so.