Ministers in food-bug crisis talks over food

Ministers were involved in urgent talks last night on the potentially-deadly effects of E.coli poisoning and the measures needed to prevent more outbreaks across Britain.

In moves that took opposition politicians by surprise, the Government announced the formation of a new cabinet committee on food hygiene - and within hours it held its first meeting.

The Prime Minister's office said the action demonstrated the Government's determination to uphold the highest food safety standards. However, some observers scented panic as the public geared up for a Christmas season of parties, with cold meats - especially turkey - on the menu.

"The Government wants to ensure that any lessons that can be learned from the Scottish E.coli outbreak are incorporated into good food safety practices," said a Downing Street spokesman.

"It will consider evidence gathered by the other inquiries into the outbreak and make recommendations to try and prevent it happening again."

The committee will be chaired by the Leader of the House, Tony Newton, and will include Stephen Dorrell, Secretary of State for Health, Michael Forsyth, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Hogg, the Agriculture Minister, and a minister from the Department of the Environment.

Among the first evidence likely to be put before the committee will be the report of the expert group of food, health and medical experts led by Professor Hugh Pennington of the University of Aberdeen.

Professor Pennington has been charged with producing interim findings on the cause and implications of the Lanarkshire outbreak by the end of the year. The committee will also consider the findings of the Scottish fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of the outbreak's 11 victims.

After it was proved earlier this year that Malcolm Elgey, a Scottish sheep farmer, became infected with E.coli 0157 simply by coming into contact with his animals, it is understood that ministers are anxious to establish the methods by which the infection can be transmitted. Earlier this week, Professor Pennington said education authorities might want to reconsider allowing children on trips to farms.

George Robertson, the shadow Scottish Secretary, welcomed the establishment of the committee, but he added: "Why did it take so long to do this? Given that a second butcher has now been named, the origin of the E.coli bacteria is still unclear."

There were no new reported cases of E.coli poisoning yesterday, leaving the number of people reporting symptoms steady at just under 400 across central Scotland. Of the 11 who died, seven are thought to have become poisoned by infected gravy in pies supplied by John Barr & Son of Wishaw.