Prosecutions urged for defective food supplies

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised health boards to have no hesitation in bringing suppliers of defective food products to court if their produce is shown to be responsible for food-poisoning outbreaks.

The move has been prompted by continuing evidence that salmonella outbreaks are persisting, notably in Co Galway, where the bacterium may have contributed to the deaths of two elderly people in Western Health Board care and has caused four recent outbreaks.

The authority's chief executive, Dr Patrick Wall, said it was "encouraging health boards to show no mercy to suppliers of food whose products have been responsible for any food poisoning incidents" by seeking a prosecution if necessary.

He said it was both worrying and disappointing that outbreaks were still occurring. It suggested poor hygiene practices were still being used by some food supply/preparation businesses and large catering establishments.

The law placed an onus on industry and caterers to ensure food they prepare is safe in all instances, he said. "People in the food industry must ensure the best hygiene measures are in place in every part of their operation, so the most vulnerable members of society, older people and the very young, are protected."

Dr Wall confirmed that the authority and board chief executives had convened a working group of environmental health officers, public health doctors, microbiologists and vets. It will develop a code of practice for "the rigorous investigation of food poisoning outbreaks", and is reviewing all outbreaks this summer to identify contributory factors, so that lessons can be learned to prevent further outbreaks.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Health Board is reported to be investigating the circumstances of gastro-intestinal illness among workers at an industrial plant in Clonee, Co Meath, where 27 out of 120 workers became ill. Salmonella is, however, not believed to be responsible.