The scientist who led the investigation into Scotland's E-coli 0157 outbreak has accused the Government of failing to tackle what he calls a "crisis" in British food production.

Professor Hugh Pennington says he believes that there are now a million cases of food poisoning every year and that his recommendations to improve food hygiene are not being implemented quickly enough.

Professor Pennington: "Implement my recommendations now"

The criticism follows warnings from doctors that all raw meat should be treated as potentially contaminated and comes shortly before the publication of the long-awaited White Paper on the new, independent Food Standards Agency.

A record number of people suffered from food poisoning last year. Officially, 100,000 cases were reported, but scientists estimate the real number could be 10 times that figure.

Speaking on BBC television, Professor Pennington said the figures were "unacceptable" for a disease that is completely preventable.

"There's a crisis in British food production. It's not about BSE or healthy eating, it's food poisoning," he said.

"If they [the Government] are really serious they must implement all the recommendations in my report now."

The measures Professor Pennington hopes the Government will now implement, include:

• licensing for butchers and restaurants
• less reliance by supermarkets on intensively farmed foods
• better training for those who handle food
• licensing for butchers and restaurants
• less reliance by supermarkets on intensively farmed foods

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has insisted that all 32 of Professor Pennington's recommendation's had been accepted by the previous government when his report was published and that many had already been implemented.
 

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