asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to introduce quality standards for cream in view of the fact that almost seven out of every ten samples tested in the Southern Health Board hygiene laboratory were considered to be unsatisfactory.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Quality Standard for Cream.
1.
I have asked the Southern Health Board, which is responsible for monitoring foodstuffs in its area, for a report on the matter, and I will be in touch with the Deputy again when I have a reply from the board.
As I said in my question, up to 70 per cent of samples of cream were found to be unsatisfactory when analysed in the Southern Health Board region. I understand that standards exist for milk since 1978. Since there is such an unsatisfactory situation obtaining in one region, can the Minister say if the same obtains throughout the country? Secondly, why have standards not been adopted for cream, because the position with regard to milk is much more satisfactory, with 21 per cent of milk samples being found wanting. My two questions are: why are there regulations for milk and not for cream and, secondly, does the problem relate to the southern region only or is it nationwide?
I understand from the health boards hygiene laboratory that the quality of cream on leaving the creameries is generally satisfactory. As the Deputy knows, nearly all cream sold in Ireland is pasteurised. Problems have arisen subsequently, either during transportation from the creameries or in storage at retail outlets, in relation to inadequate refrigeration. I have asked the Southern Health Board for a detailed report of the problem in Cork and as soon as I receive it I will send a copy to the Deputy.
In relation to my second question, we do have an order in existence for milk since 1978. Is there a special difficulty that we cannot introduce a similar order for cream and why has one not been introduced?
Not that I am aware of. I do not have a brief on that aspect of it. I will endeavour to add that into the response to the Deputy.
Is the Minister satisfied that under the food and hygiene regulations it is the retailer who must accept responsibility for any defect in produce he sells, not the producer? Is he satisfied that the health boards play a sufficient role in ensuring that the quality of all food produce is up to standard? Does the Minister not see a need for a greater role by the health boards, perhaps to take over some of the role——
The Deputy is widening the scope of the question.
——of the Department of Agriculture and of the local authorities?
As the Deputy knows, there are no legal standards for the microbiological quality of cream. However, the Department have issued microbiological guidelines for cream, also for milk, ice cream, eggs and fish which enable the public health officials to ensure general compliance with regulations. I do not have any information about official guidelines. Those that are issued are intended for official control purposes.
Would the Minister accept that there is an urgent need to introduce orders in relation to cream since the figures to which I am referring are those contained in the public analysts report for 1983, which means that the matter is now urgent? Also, in relation to cream, has the position improved since the controversy last year in relation to the level of antibiotic residues in dairy products? Would the Minister have information on that in his brief?
There was a very significant improvement in 1984. The failure rate in 1983 was very high at 68.8 per cent and dropped in 1984 to 32.7 per cent, so there has been quite a significant improvement.