Food Crime & Incidents

Investigations Undertaken by FSS

Request

1. Details of any investigations FSS has undertaken in relation to an E.coli outbreak arising from the consumption of Venison with possible links to Highland Game.

2. Details of all Evidence held relating to the E.coli outbreak and its link to Highland Game.

3. Details, including the number of, all reports and complaints made to FSS in respect of persons suffering from e-coli around October 2015 and relating to the consumption of venison manufactured by Highland Game.  This information should include date of the first complaint/report to FSS along with the date of the latest complaint/report.

4. Confirmation of any actions undertaken by FSS, including any enforcement action in relation to the manufacture and supply by Highland Game for the period August 2014 to date.

5. Details of all information held in relation to [Name] complaints including details of our findings, outcomes and any action taken.

Response

1. Details of any investigations FSS has undertaken in relation to an E.coli outbreak arising from the consumption of Venison with possible links to Highland Game.

2. Details of all Evidence held relating to the E.coli outbreak and its link to Highland Game.

4. Confirmation of any actions undertaken by FSS, including any enforcement action in relation to the manufacture and supply by Highland Game for the period August 2014 to date.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested in questions (1), (2) and (4) because an exception Section 34(1)(b) (Investigations by Scottish public authorities and proceedings arising out of such investigations) of the FOISA applies to that information. 

3. Details, including the number of, all reports and complaints made to FSS in respect of persons suffering from e-coli around October 2015 and relating to the consumption of venison manufactured by Highland Game.  This information should include date of the first complaint/report to FSS along with the date of the latest complaint/report.

FSS received one complaint from a member of the public who stayed near Edinburgh and reported as being ill.  FSS received the report on 7 October 2015, and referred it to the Local Authority which undertook investigation. This case proved not to be related to the outbreak relating to venison from Highland Game. Therefore we do not hold information requested under question (3).

5. Details of all information held in relation to [Name] complaints including details of our findings, outcomes and any action taken.

FSS does not hold any identifiable information held in relation to [Name] complaints. This is because FSS did not receive a complaint from [Name].  With the exception of the complaint made directly to FSS (see our response to your question (3) above), any information about complaints in respect of persons suffering from E.coli around October 2015 and relating to the consumption of venison manufactured by Highland Game is held by FSS in an anonymised form as part of the on-going investigation into the E.coli outbreak.