Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers are protected from high levels of campylobacter in poultry.

The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (FSA) is working in partnership with industry to tackle Campylobacter, exploring a range of interventions targeted at different points in the food chain to reduce contamination levels before the meat reaches the consumer. Also, in publishing the quarterly results of its UK-wide microbiological survey of Campylobacter contamination in fresh whole chilled chickens at retail sale, the FSA is maintaining consumer awareness of the issue and encouraging retailer action.

The FSA has provided guidance for consumers on the safety measures that they can take to reduce their risk of spreading and contracting Campylobacter from raw poultry in the home and this featured in its Food Safety Week campaign earlier in the year.