§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken following the recommendation 995W by the Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food that the quality of investigations into outbreaks of foodborne illness should be improved.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe guidance "Management of Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness" is published today.
The need for the guidance to improve the quality of outbreak data was recognised by the Richmond committee in 1990 and by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food in its report "Salmonella in Eggs" in 1993.
The guidance, which has been produced by an informal working group of outside experts set up by the Department, offers informal "best practice" advice for all those involved in the management of local outbreaks of foodborne illness. In addition to helping outbreak investigation teams at the local level, we hope that the guidance will also assist in improving of data collected on a national basis. We have asked relevant professional staff in health and local authorities to promote its use as far as possible within existing resources.
Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Library.