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Written question asked by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative) on Monday, 11 June 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 June 2012. It was answered by James Paice (Conservative) on Monday, 25 June 2012 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.


Poultry: MRSA

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what testing her Department has undertaken on levels of MRSA in (a) poultry farms and (b) chicken and turkey products on sale to the public.

[111361]

Answer

Staphylococcus aureus recovered from poultry during laboratory examinations of clinical material at AHVLA Regional Laboratories and subjected to susceptibility testing are examined to determine whether or not they are MRSA. No MRSA have been detected in poultry, although the numbers of isolates examined each year is relatively low.

The Food Standards Agency conducted a UK-wide survey between May 2007 and September 2008 to determine Campylobacter and Salmonella prevalence on fresh chicken at retail. This survey did not include any testing of levels of MRSA in the chicken samples collected. The Food Standards Agency has not conducted any other testing of MRSA in chicken and turkey products on sale to the public.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
111361; 547 cc20-1W
Session
2012-13
Subjects
Farms Poultry MRSA
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk