[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Auditor General Egg Safety_C O'Connor MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

GREENS WELCOME AUDITOR GENERAL'S EGG SAFETY REPORT

Look Forward To The Introduction Of Egg Stamping In Tasmania
 
Cassy O'Connor MP
Greens Shadow Health Spokesperson

Thursday, 20 November 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Bartlett Government to heed the
recommendations of the Auditor-General's report on egg safety in
Tasmania, and introduce date stamping to ensure eggs can be traced back
to producers.

Greens Shadow Health spokesperson Cassy O'Connor MP said following
recent notable Salmonella outbreaks in Tasmania, the Auditor-General
examined state and local governments' role in food safety, in specific
relation to egg production, the sale of eggs and foods containing eggs. 

"Salmonella is a nasty disease that comes in up to 2000 different
strains, some of which can be deadly, particularly to vulnerable people,
including the elderly and very young.   Tasmanian consumers are entitled
to expect the food they buy to eat is safe, and that the regulatory
framework will protect them from food-borne illness such as salmonella,"
Ms O'Connor said.

"The number one recommendation made by the Auditor-General is for the
State Government to introduce the date stamping of eggs to protect
consumers from out-of-date products, and make sure bad eggs can be
traced back to their source."

"It is encouraging to see in the report that the Department of Primary
Industries and Water (DPIW) has expressed its support for date stamping
of eggs."

"The Auditor-General's report also points to the serious shortage of
Environmental Health Officers at the local government level, and the
impact this has on a council's capacity to ensure timely and regular
food safety inspections.  Local and State governments need to work
together to increase the number of EHOs in Tasmania as a matter of
urgency," Ms O'Connor said.




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