asked the Minister for Health whether, in his view, reports relating to high levels of contamination in mincemeat are well founded and the action, if any, he intends taking in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mincemeat Contamination.
2.
I understand that a recent report of a survey carried out in the Dublin area of contamination in mincemeat stated that a high proportion of the samples taken had levels of contamination in excess of ‘guideline' values laid down by my Department.
While this does not in itself mean that the mincemeat sampled was unfit for human consumption it does indicate a poor level of hygiene at some point or points in the chain of production or retailing.
The Deputy will be aware of the recent Government decision to introduce measures for the better control of conditions in slaughterhouses. Butchers shops are paid particular attention by health inspectors in the course of their enforcement of the food hygiene regulations and the inspectors seek to promote an informed attitude to hygiene among managements and workforce. I am considering the preparation of an information guide for the trade and I will set out hygiene practices to be observed in butchers' shops.
I thank the Minister for his extremely full reply to my question. I understood him to say that the report did show a high level of contamination. I also understood the Minister to say that he was extremely concerned at this. The Minister's response appears to be to provide an information guide. Is there not something more urgent and practical we can do? I might put it to the Minister that mincemeat forms part of the regular diet of a growing number of families. Here we have a report which says there is a high level of contamination. Is there not something more we can do other than a guide, which, I accept, would be helpful? Has the Minister's Department any other specific controls they can exercise, or can additional inspectors be put into this field? I think the Minister would agree that it is a very serious situation, but I accept that he is concerned about it.
I would accept the Deputy's view that the bacteriological counts are disconcertingly high. I would point out that mincemeat, of its very nature, is susceptible to large bacteriological populations and accounts reported to me were far too high by any standard. Guidelines exist and the health boards are continuously making efforts to ensure that the highest degree of hygiene prevails at all stages after slaughtering. I will review whether statutory form should be given to the guidelines but they are very clearly laid out for the health boards.
In the meantime would the Minister agree with me that the general public are not aware of what the Minister has just told the House, that they are not generally aware of the danger in this product. While the Minister is reviewing the statutory situation would he not take steps in the public press, by way of advertisement or otherwise — and I would hope this debate would help also — to inform the public that this is a fairly difficult situation and that before purchasing this produce they should be extremely careful, asking whether the regulations in any given shop have been adhered to? The public deserve to know the information the Minister has given. It is very important.
The cause lies in the poor conditions prevailing in slaughter houses catering for the home market. Any level of contamination may be introduced at the slaughtering stage. The basic issue involves proper supervision and an effective programme of hygiene inspection, advice and enforcement in slaughter houses and then in butcher shops.
In a recent survey undertaken in a particular region of the 748 samples of cooked and uncooked meats examined 317, or 41 per cent were found to be contaminated or unsatisfactory. In view of these startling and frightening figures, will the Minister state if his Department have initiated any legal action against the outlets that tried to sell these contaminated foodstuffs?
The legal action is taken by the health boards and where they have definite supporting evidence they have received every encouragement from me to prosecute. That includes pig meat. The Deputy may be assured that I will not relent in any way in such prosecutions.