§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into E. coli 0157 bacteria in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [41638]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Department is supporting, and will continue to support, research on this important food poisoning organism, including the detection of the organism and conditions leading to its growth, survival and death in foods. In addition, research is also directed at gaining a greater understanding of the incidence of the organism in cattle and its carriage into the food chain.
In formulating future research priorities in this area, the Department will take account of the recommendations for research on this organism identified by the independent advisory committee on the microbiological safety of food in its report published in June of this year. In producing the report, the advisory committee evaluated all the scientific information on this organism which was currently available. Officials will continue to assess new developments in this area in conjunction with colleagues in the Department of Health.