asked the Minister for Health if there has been an increase in the incidence of food poisoning in the past ten years; and what action is being taken to combat the problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Poisoning.
5.
Food poisoning, as such, is not a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1948. Consequently, there is no specific information available in my Department regarding the incidence of food poisoning.
However, the statistics available to my Department regarding food-borne infections indicate that while there has been an increase in salmonella infection the number of cases of dysentery has fallen.
The elimination of contamination arising out of food is one of the aims of the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1950. Salmonellosis has been the subject of a seminar held in April, 1970, under the aegis of my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries which was attended by medical and veterinary officers in the central and local authority services.
The Food Hygiene Advisory Committee have dealt with the problem of food poisoning in their report which is at present under examination in my Department. When this examination is completed I will then consider the further measures, appropriate to my Department, to be taken in the matter.
In view of the fact that food poisoning is a disease which must be controlled by more effective measures in the field of public health, would the Minister not consider it appropriate to make it a notifiable disease?
I am advised it would be quite impracticable. A lot of conditions which might be thought of as food poisoning might not be food poisoning in the sense which the Deputy means.
Is it not possible to investigate so as to ensure that no mistakes will be made?
I am sorry I cannot recommend that food poisoning, with all its numerous sub-conditions, should be notifiable. As I have said, there has been an increase in salmonella infection but there has been a decrease in dysentery cases.