Could BSE happen again

A.� The Government has introduced strict legislation covering farming, abattoir and meat handling practices. There are however loopholes whuch nutritionists are concerned about.

The use of cattle meat in cattle feed was banned 11 years ago, but blood is still exempt even though it could spread variant CJD, the human form of BSE that has already claimed the lives of over 100 people in the UK

It's stll legal to use the brains, eyes and spinal cords of cattle under six months old in processed meat products

Although it's illegal for beef from British cattle over 30 months to enter the food chain (a measure against BSE), imported beef from older cattle can still be used to make burgers, sausages, salamis and pies

Most slaughter-houses and meat-cutting plants score less than 75 per cent in hygiene assessments

The Euopean Commission is considering legal action against the UK over the lack of hygiene and supervision on poultry farms and poultry processing plants.

In May this year, thousands of popular chicken products were withdrawn from sale following a police investigation into a pet food processing plant in Derbyshire. It's thought that manufacturers may have unwittingly received meat considered unfit for human consumption and used it in their products

Between January and May this year, there were 15 incidents of spinal cord being found in beef imported into the UK from other EU countries that have suffered outbreaks of BSE. This part of cattle is one of the most likely to contain BSE infectivity and under European law, spinal cord is supposed to be removed immediately after slaughter, stained and then disposed of safely.

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Q.� How can you buy the safest meat

A.� Experts recommend buying the best you can afford, and if necessary, eat it less often and in smaller quantities. Choose whole prime joints of raw meats, rather than processed raw meat, such as mince or burgers so you can see exactly what you are getting. Beef from joints has never been found to contain BSE infectivity. Also, joints will have been handled less than processed meat and will therefore be less prone to bacteria that cause food processing. Don't buy cheap, poor quality processed meat products - raw or cooked - such as sausages, spreads, pates, kievs, nuggets, pies or cold meat. If you buy processed meat, make sure it's organic or from a producer with high animal welfare standards.

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Q.� How are you most likely to get food poisoning

A.� Poultry is the biggest risk. Estimates vary but it's thought that anything between a third and a half of raw chickens and turkeys are contaminated with bacteria, such as campylobacter or salmonella, which can cause diorrhoea and vomiting.

Eggs are still a common cause of food poisoning, although salmonella is far less of a problem than it used to be. The industry attributes this to vaccines.

Burgers and sausages are the most likely carriers of ecoli 0157, which can cause kidney damage and be fatal

Some soft cheeses have insufficient acid to kill off pathogenic bugs and are particularly susceptible to listeria

Cooked meats and pates are a common source of listeria - which can cause miscarriage and be lethal for old and very young.

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By Katharine MacColl