RECENT times have taught us to view food safety scares with some seriousness.

We were, after all, told when a minister was feeding a burger to his daughter, that there was no possibility of a health risk in eating beef. Only to be told later that there may have been a risk.

Such experiences may therefore taint our perception of a report which highlights a possible BSE risk in sheep.

However, it is important that our judgements are based on reason.

It is important to emphasise that, at this stage, there is no proven link between BSE and sheep.

All we have are inconclusive assumptions from a theoretical study. These are not grounds on which we should increase our concern about eating lamb or mutton.

We should derive some reassurance from the fact that no sheep on farms or at slaughterhouses have been found to have BSE.

The potential risks are insufficiently proven to justify more draconian measures and restrictions.

But equally, these are not grounds for complacency. Food safety should never again be taken for granted.

Even though the chance of sheep being infected by BSE is theoretical and remote, it should not be overlooked.

The duty is on the Government to scrutinise the findings of this report and to set about examining its implications.

Screening of sheep appears to be a logical step to take by a Government determined to uphold standards of food safety.

To do anything less will do nothing to ease concerns among consumers, and may have a devastating impact on a farming industry already suffering from the effects of BSE and foot-and-mouth.

It is in everyone's interest that the screening is carried out, and that the findings are made public, as quickly as possible.

Sadly, our faith in the Government carrying out this duty is somewhat diminished by its shambolic attempt to estimate the human health risk from BSE infection of British sheep.

We recall all too clearly that, after four years of research, scientists at the Institute of Animal Health found they had mistakenly been examining cow brains believing them to be from sheep.