Written question asked by James Paice (Conservative) on Friday, 13 February 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 February 1998. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Thursday, 19 February 1998 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what (a) studies and (b) evaluations have been carried out by his Department into (i) the microbiological standards of the finished product from slaughterhouses and cutting plants and (ii) the scores achieved by those plants under his hygiene assessment system. - Inc ref to Veterinary Record (1996) 139, 587-589, W R Hudson.

Answer: Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what (a) studies and (b) evaluations have been carried out by his Department into (i) the microbiological standards of the finished product from slaughterhouses and cutting plants and (ii) the scores achieved by those plants under his hygiene assessment system. [30214] Mr. Rooker: [holding answer 18 February 1998]: No studies or evaluations have been carried out by the Ministry with the sole objective of measuring the microbiological standards of the finished product from slaughterhouses and cutting plants, against their hygiene Assessment System (HAS) scores. However, as part of a wider MAFF funded research project, Bristol University has published results (Veterinary Record (1996) 139, 587-589, W. R. Hudson, G. C. Mead, M. H. Hinton) of a study which concluded that HAS scores are a useful tool in predicting the ability of an abattoir to produce carcases to sound microbiological status, especially the categories concerned with slaughter and dressing, and personnel and practices.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 30214; 306 c826W;306 c824W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Inspections Hygiene Food Meat Microbiology Research Slaughterhouses Hygiene assessment system