asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement in relation to the findings of a recent survey carried out by the Southern Health Board on uncooked meat products which showed that 73 per cent of all minced meats examined failed the specified health standards.
Written Answers - Uncooked Meat Products.
191.
The survey to which the Deputy refers is, I believe, the food sampling and monitoring programme of the Southern Health Board. The most recent results of this programme are contained in the 1986 Annual Report of the health board's food hygiene laboratory.
The report shows that of a total of 530 samples of uncooked meat sent to the laboratory for microbiological examination 251 (47 per cent) samples were found not to comply with the microbiological guidelines set by my Department. Of the samples taken 103 were of minced meats of which 76 (73 per cent) were found not to comply with the guidelines.
I should point out that the microbiological guidelines do not by themselves constitute the criteria of fitness or otherwise of food. Where the guidelines are exceeded they indicate the existence of a possible defect in hygiene standards and the need for further inquiry.
In all cases where the guidelines were exceeded the health boards environmental health officers inquired further into hygiene standards and took additional samples as necessary. Where a problem was identified remedial action was taken.