§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations his Department had with health authorities in Sunderland about the outbreak of E. coli bacterium in 1995; what advice was offered; and if he will make a statement. [8949]
§ Mr. HoramNone. This was a local outbreak managed by the local outbreak control team. Under the Food Safety Act 1990 code of practice No. 16, if it is decided that a complaint or problem is likely to be an isolated incident, action should remain with the local food authority. It is established practice for local authorities to inform the Public Health Laboratory Service of incidents of foodborne illness. The Public Health Laboratory Service was involved in this outbreak and gave advice on the epidemiological investigations.