Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Food Industry.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2004

Wednesday, 13 October 2004

Ceisteanna (62)

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

63 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will request a review of pasteurisation temperatures for milk, arising from the possible relationship between MAP and Crohn’s disease. [24509/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A report of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on the possible link between MAP and Crohn's disease was published in 2000. It concluded that the effectiveness of increasing the time or temperature in the pasteurisation process had not been established. The report did not recommend any alteration to the current normal pasteurisation methods. In 1999 my Department's veterinary research laboratory carried out a study to determine whether MAP bacteria were present in samples of pasteurised and unpasteurised milk. All of the samples tested negative for MAP.

A report of the EU scientific committee on animal health and welfare in 2000 stated that there was insufficient evidence to draw any firm conclusion about the suggested link between Johne's disease and Crohn's disease. The FSAI report mentioned earlier reached a similar conclusion. However, there is a need to keep the results of international research on this matter under review. My Department will continue to do so in conjunction with all of the other relevant agencies.

Barr
Roinn