Day 081 - 31 Jan 95 - Page 12


     
     1        thing.
     2
     3   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  The same thing?
     4        A.  Yes.
     5
     6   MR. RAMPTON:  So, this is a count of the total number of bugs
     7        per gramme?
     8        A.  Yes.
     9
    10   Q.   Is that right?
    11        A.  Yes.
    12
    13   Q.   In the second part of table, there are figures given for
    14        individual organisms, right?
    15        A.  Yes.
    16
    17   Q.   I should draw your attention to the note (1) at the bottom
    18        of the page where it says:  "The figures given in the Table
    19        are not statutory microbiological standards.  They are
    20        provisional guidelines".  Then note (6) -- I am afraid I do
    21        not know the date of this document -- says:  "Provision has
    22        been made for the inclusion of microbiological standards
    23        for foods in both the Food Safety Act 1990 and in EC
    24        legislation.  If mandatory standards are introduced for
    25        some or all of the ready to eat foods included in the
    26        Table, then interpretation of the results would become more
    27        straightforward, viz. samples would either pass or fail the
    28        standards".  What is the present position, legislative or
    29        regulatory position, in relation to these guidelines, do
    30        you know?
    31        A.  As far as I am aware, these are just guidelines and
    32        these are the only figures.
    33
    34   Q.   Still?
    35        A.  Yes.
    36
    37   Q.   Can we look at the second part of the table, again bearing
    38        in mind that this is cooked food or some of it is, that is
    39        ready to eat, is that right?
    40        A.  Are we referring?
    41
    42   Q.   I am looking at the ---
    43        A.  Yes, to the Public Health, yes.
    44
    45   Q.   -- PHLS document?
    46        A.  Yes.
    47
    48   Q.   These are what we call "ready to eat" foods?
    49        A.  Yes.
    50 
    51   Q.   We see that at the top of the page and I drew your 
    52        attention to cooked meats.  We see also there, above that, 
    53        cooked pies, pasties, Quiches, etc. and below that things
    54        like sandwiches and salads?
    55        A.  Yes.
    56
    57   Q.   Looking at the second part of the table, the guideline is
    58        that you should not detect salmonella in 25 grammes of the
    59        substance; is that right?
    60        A.  Yes.

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