Issues

ENVIRONMENT Climate Change Energy Efficiency Organic Produce Soil Fertiliser Use Pesticide Use Fish Biodiversity Water

SOCIAL Fair Trade Social Audit Ethical Local Sourcing

ECONOMIC Internal Operations SAFETY BSE Lessons Hormones Antibiotics Additives

HEALTH Hygiene Health & Nutrition Animal Welfare GM

Sweden built a very strong Salmonella control programme, following an outbreak when about 9,000 people suffered food poisoning and 90 died in an outbreak of Salmonella in the early 1950's. It involves extensive regulation, including compulsory reporting. Salmonella is now found in less than one per cent of animal products for human consumption produced in Sweden, compared to 30-50% in some other parts of Europe. The Swedish programme is financed by food producers and the state, who consider it is a bargain - costing about $8 million instead of the £28million in extra health costs. Sweden maintained the rules on entry to the EU. More on Nordic food policies

The UK Food Safety Act 1990 gives powers to enforcement officers to provide safer food, enabling them to close insanitary premises and seize suspect foods. Under food hygiene law in the UK, food handlers must receive adequate supervision, instruction and/or training in food hygiene for the work they do. More from FSA

Your plan may include: Review whether the poultry/pigs have been tested and are Salmonella/Campylobacter free and whether food handlers have received proper training. whether National Guidelines of good hygiene practice are being implemented. Possible Policy Statement: "Where feasible we will only purchase animal products tested for, and found to be free from salmonella." Suggested Indicators: Incidencies of Salmonella in the supply chain found during testing. Possible Target: e.g. In 2001, the Food Standards Agency set a target of reducing Salmonella contamination of retail UK-produced chicken by 50% by 2005. This was achieved in 2001. In 2005, the same target was set for Campylobacter by 2010.