...and cats definitely out

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33741, 14 January 1975, Page 2

...and cats definitely out

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 13. i Misguided sentiment could not justify the continued presence of cats on food premises, said the Minister of Health (Mr McGuigan) today. ■ He was commenting on reaction to the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1974, which bar all animals from all food premises. The regulations (came into force on January 1.

Claims defending cats were not supported by the realities, Mr McGuigan said. “The health of people must be the main concern. Cats are known to carry diseases which lead to food contamination and consequent human illness.”

Cats had been shown to be a primary host of toxoplasmosis, a generalised infection which affected a number of people every year. They were known to excrete salmonella, particularly when exposed to contaminated meat, and about one in three cats carried ringworm. “Cats are responsible for

about 90 per cent of ringworm cases in humans,” Mr McGuigan said. The new’ regulations had been thoroughly considered before being introduced and there was nothing new in the idea, he said. The regulations were simply an extension of those dating from 1952 which prohibited all animals from premises where food was manufactured, prepared or packed. Mr McGuigan said that, as far as rodent control was concerned, a 1970 survey by the World Health Organisation had shown cats to be relatively inflective.

“Effective control, without the risk of contaminating food, can be achieved by good building design and the controlled and judicious use of poisons,” he said. “Food producers have been using these methods for years. There is no reason why they cannot be used in retail food shops.” It was significant, he said, that health inspectors in the field fully supported the extended regulations. Their personal experiences had shown the risks existed and the regulations were necessary to ensure good food hygiene.