HC Deb 03 December 1998 vol 321 cc254-5W
Mrs. Lait

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of food poisoning have been reported in each year since 1995 caused by(a) turkeys eviscerated in retail premises, (h) turkeys eviscerated in retail premises which were improperly cooked, (c) turkeys eviscerated at abattoirs and (d) turkeys eviscerated at abattoirs which were improperly cooked. [61670]

Ms Jowell

I have been asked to reply.

The majority of food poisoning notifications are sporadic cases which cannot normally be linked to a specific food vehicle. The most reliable data linking particular foods with infection is derived from the investigation of outbreaks. Information on outbreaks associated with food production processes such as those relating to the slaughter and evisceration of poultry is not available. The tables show the pathogens responsible for disease associated with the consumption of turkey products and the faults in food handling that investigators have identified as contributing to the transmission of infection in these outbreaks.

General outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease reported to be associated with the consumption of turkey/turkey products, England & Wales 1995–97
Organism 1995 1996 1997
Clostridium perfringens 1 8
Salmonella enteritidis PT4 3 4
Salmonella enteritidis other phage types 1 1 2
Salmonella typhimurium 3 1 1
Other salmonellas 1
Staphylococcus aureus 3
SRSV 1
Unknown 1

General outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease reported to be associated with the consumption of turkey/turkey products, faults suspected to be contributory factors
Organism Number of Outbreaks Infected food handler Inadequate heat treatment Cross contamination Inadequate storage
1996
Salmonella enteritidis PT4 4 1 2 4 1
Salmonella enteritidis other phage types 1 1 1
Salmonella typhimurium 1 1 1 1
Other salmonellas 1 1
Staphylococcus aureus 3 1 1 3
Unknown 1 1 1
1997
Clostridium perfringens 8 3 1 2
Salmonella enteritidis PT4 0
Salmonella enteritidis other phage types 2 2 1
Salmonella typhimurium 1 1

Notes:

Up to three food vehicles may be reported for a single outbreak. The outbreaks listed above are those in which at least one of the vehicles reported were a turkey based product more than one fault may be reported for an outbreak.

Source:

Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre