Question reference: S3W-04112
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 7 September 2007
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 September 2007
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent outbreak of E. coli O157 in Paisley, what plans it has to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents of food poisoning across Scotland.
Answer
An expert group,under the Chairmanship of Professor Hugh Pennington, was established inDecember 1996 to examine the circumstances which led to the e.coli outbreak incentral Scotland and to advise on the implications for food safety and lessonsto be learned. This group made a total of 32 recommendations, all of which wereaccepted and actioned by the Scottish Government.
The group’srecommendations focussed mainly on improving hygiene standards andstrengthening enforcement controls in fresh meat plants and butcher shops. Therewere also recommendations around consumer education and awareness, improvingsurveillance methods, research and outbreak management.
A leafletentitled Shedding Light on Ecoli 0157 – What you need to know wasproduced by the Scottish Government in 2005 to raise awareness and give adviceto those visiting the outdoors and enjoying outdoor activities such as farmsand petting zoos. The document is available electronically on the dedicatedwebsite www.handsclean.info/ and isdistributed once a year to a range of interested parties such as Directors ofPublic Health, Scouts and Girl Guides and outdoor organisations.
The ScottishGovernment also continues to promote a Hand Hygiene Campaign to ensure that allhealth workers, the general public and young children are made aware of theimportance of good hand washing in preventing the spread of infection.