FSA seeks power to protect passengers

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is demanding the right to inspect ships and aircraft following a rise in the number of food-poisoning cases.

It wants the same powers to investigate the catering facilities on boats and planes as it has on land.

At present, it relies on voluntary agreements with the airlines and shipping companies.

Reports submitted to the FSA from the Association of Port Health Authorities have highlighted poor examples of food hygiene on cruise ships and ferries operating out of the UK.

These include food being prepared while cockroaches were running across the floor; no hot water in the galley for dishwashing or hand-washing; and a rubbish room and chute infested with cockroaches.

The Consumers' Association has backed the FSA by issuing details of customers' complaints over the past two years. These include food-poisoning cases on 14 cruise ships.

The Consumers' Association received more than 70 complaints about health and safety from one ship alone and more than 60 complaints regarding another ship. Most concerned salmonella food poisoning.

Suzi Leather, deputy chairman of the FSA, said: "Everything possible must be done to ensure that food hygiene on ships and aircraft is up to the standard of, and subject to the same scrutiny as, any other food business."

By Andrew Davies