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58
Unsound Foreign Flour.
A complaint was received from a local baker of the
condition of a large consignment of Chinese flour which he
had received from two wholesale firms.
On investigation, this flour—a percentage of which is
used with other flour in the baking of bread—was found to
be both maggotty and weevilly, and, in my opinion, unfit for
human food.
The Food Department of the Ministry of Food was communicated
with, and, at the same time, I notified the Ministry
of Health, and one of their medical inspectors (Dr. Hamill)
came to Battersea and inspected the flour with me. It was
agreed that the flour was unfit for human food, but was
capable of being used for animal feeding. Eventually, after
some considerable delay and apparent reluctance to agree with
the views of the Medical Officer of Health, the flour was
removed and disposed of for other purposes. The quantity of
flour involved amounted to 5,600 lbs.
Butchers' Shops.
The number of butchers' shops in the Borough is 78.
These premises are usually well kept, only one serious complaint
(either as to the condition of the meat sold, or to the
manner in which it was kept free from risk of contamination)
was reported.
In that case, a man had recently opened a butchers' shop
in a poor quarter of the Borough, and was doing a roaring
trade in cheap mutton. The Inspector found that he had
not taken steps to make the premises (sanitarily) suitable
for the business. As he refused to comply with the requirements
of the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1908, when called upon to do so, proceedings were taken
against him in the Police Court under that Act. He was convicted
and fined. Notwithstanding the conviction and fine he
continued to carry on his business without taking steps to
comply with the requirements of the Act. He was again
summoned, and was convicted and fined with costs. The
Magistrate, at the same time, warned the defendant that if
he appeared before him again he would be sent to prison.
This action had the desired effect, and the premises were made
fit under the supervision of the Council's Inspectors.
A systematic inspection of all butchers' shops is carried
out by the Food Inspector, and during the year 950 inspections
were recorded.