Bird flu poses 'negligible' risk

[hawkeye]

Bernard Matthews has updated their main web page with info pertaining to Avian Flu:

Your answers to the outbreak of Avian Flu


Is it safe to eat Bernard Matthews products?
Yes, all Bernard Matthews products are perfectly safe to eat. Scientific evidence from the World Heath Organisation and other industry bodies has shown that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. You will hear Government officials from Defra saying exactly the same thing today.
So none of the products I have at home in my fridge or freezer are affected?

That's right ? none of the affected poultry entered the food chain so there is no need to worry.


Am I at risk of catching the disease?

No, not at all - people who eat poultry products are not at risk of catching the disease. This is because the disease has not entered the food chain and was identified at a very early stage.


Should I stop buying your products?
No, not at all - people who eat Bernard Matthews' products are not at risk of catching the disease.


Will Bernard Matthews remove its products from supermarkets?
No, there is no need to recall or withdraw any of our products as there are no risks to our consumers and all our products are perfectly safe to eat. The advice from the Government will back this up.
Is there a risk of touching uncooked Bernard Matthews products?

Bernard Matthews can confirm that none of the affected poultry has entered the food chain and there is no risk at all to our consumers.


What is avian flu?
It is a disease which usually only affects birds.


Does cooking poultry properly kill the virus?
Firstly, it is important to stress that none of the affected poultry has entered the food chain and there is no risk at all to our consumers. Cooking food thoroughly kills any diseases and all Bernard Matthews products are perfectly safe to eat.

Can I have a refund for the Bernard Matthews products I have already purchased?
Our products are perfectly safe to eat. As there is absolutely no risk to consumers, refunds will not be given in this instance.


I want to find out more about avian flu, where can I get this?

For further information please contact

Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77 (9.00am - 5.00pm 7 days a week)

or visit www.defra.gov.uk

You can contact Bernard Matthews on our Freephone Customer Care Line 0500 140150

or by e-mail: consumer.relations@bernardmatthews.com

[hawkeye]

Re: UK 2/5 News Stories

Bird flu poses 'negligible' risk

Press Association
Monday February 5, 2007 7:03 PM

The outbreak of potentially deadly bird flu at a Suffolk farm poses only a "negligible" risk to the public, Environment Secretary David Miliband said.

With a cull of almost 160,000 birds at the Bernard Matthews farm in Holton expected to be completed on Monday, he told MPs the response had been "rapid, well co-ordinated and appropriate".

And Mr Miliband, making a Commons statement hours after the Cabinet's emergency Cobra committee met to discuss the situation, told consumers it was safe to eat poultry and eggs.

However such assurances have not prevented the UK's largest supermarket chain Tesco from seeing a small dip in poultry sales - which were down a single digit percentage point. Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's said sales of poultry and eggs remained unchanged.

Tony Blair joined the bid to ease public fears - his official spokesman telling reporters that he was happy to carry on eating poultry.

Mr Miliband earlier defended the handling of the outbreak, denying there had been a delay in taking action at the farm. He said: "There were a small number of birds that died on Tuesday and on Wednesday but nothing unusual in a flock of this size. You do get birds dying in those sorts of numbers.

"It wasn't until Thursday, when more than 800 birds died, that the Bernard Matthews vet quite rightly informed the local State Veterinary Service and we immediately put restrictions on that farm. So this idea that there was some delay is simply wrong."

Experts are still working to try to find the source of the outbreak, identified on Saturday as the H5N1 strain which has killed 164 people since January 2003, mainly in Asia and the Middle East.

Mr Miliband said he expected the culling to be completed on Monday and said the carcasses were being transported "under escort in sealed, leak-proof lorries" to a rendering plant in Staffordshire. He said "full protection" had been put in place for workers dealing with the dead birds and the public living near the plant.

Workers at the factory farm have been offered the anti-viral Tamiflu and are being monitored and seen by doctors.