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Dept of Health

Answer

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what statistical baseline from laboratory reports in 2000 the Food Standards Agency has based its target for reduction of food-borne illness; and what the most recent performance statistics are in relation to this target. [88715] Ms Blears: The Food Standards Agency's target for reducing food-borne illness by 20 per cent. by 2006 is based on laboratory reports of the five major food- borne pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli 0157, Listeria and Clostridium perfringens), excluding cases reported as having been acquired abroad. These data are collected by the Public Health Laboratory Service communicable disease surveillance centres in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and by the Scottish Centre for infection and environmental health for Scotland. When the baseline was announced in August 20011, there were 65,209 confirmed laboratory reports in the year 2000. However, it should be noted that the majority of people with food-borne disease do not consult a doctor or have a specimen sent for laboratory testing, and therefore the number of cases of food poisoning will be significantly higher. Updates on progress against the target will be reported annually to the Board and can be downloaded from the Agency's website. The figures for 2001 (the year in which the Agency's strategy for reducing food-borne disease was being finalised) were reported to the Board in May 2002, and showed a small increase (1 per cent.) in the number of cases. 1 www.food.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/poisoningreduction

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

88715; 397 c679-80W;397 c677W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Contamination Diseases Disease control Food Food Standards Agency Food poisoning Standards

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk