Vol. 404 No. 8
111 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the position relating to the sale of unwrapped bread; if there are different regional standards applying; and if shopkeepers are compelled to wrap all bread before its sale to customers.
The Food Hygiene Regulations, 1950-89, require that "unprotected food shall not be placed or kept in a position where it would be likely to be contaminated... .". Bread may, therefore, be sold unwrapped provided it is not likely to be contaminated. If bread is offered for sale, in circumstances which the inspecting officer of the health board considers to be unsafe, he/she may require that the bread be moved either to a safer location or be sold wrapped.
The regulations are enforced by the health boards on a regional basis and as particular circumstances may arise in individual cases, health boards may apply their discretion in the implementation of the Regulations.
In an effort to standardise the practice as far as is practicable, I intend to issue guidelines to the health boards in the matter.
