(*Let the reader understand what I'm really saying here without breaching forum rules.) I have been surprised this summer when I visited several petting farms with the kids at the lack of hand washing facilities or instructions on hand washing present. This after the Griffin Report on the E-coli 0157 outbreak at Godstone Farm in Surrey last year, which can be viewed here: http://www.griffininvest...rg.uk/report/default.htm I'd like to ask the audience, what reasons do you think are behind this apparent complacency (or was it just 2 random bad samples), does stuff* just happen?

Speaking personally, I was not the product of a happening but was created some time before such things were invented in the 60's. It is Friday!!

Darn, I seem to have had poo on my mind in the last 24 hours. And at 05:45 too! The businesses I had in mind did not have animal/ human interactions as a primary part of their business though. As such they may have slipped beneath the enforcement radar. They were a farm (main business) with an associated campsite where feeding the goats was positively encouraged, but the only water supply was the cold tap used to fill the drinking trough; and a pub (main business) where the landlord decided that tame rabbits gambolling round the beer garden would distract the punters sufficiently until the pie & pint arrived.

Hmm Bob, I don't see the Care Commission softening it's stance from soap and water to hand wipes & gel after Griffin. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were The Secret Garden, the risks posed by E. coli 0157 to under 5's are too great. I also thought it concerning that no one has yet defined an "open farm" which can only lead to continued public ignorance.