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52
the practice of exposing meat in front of their shops it is difficult to see that any
hardship would be caused. It is noteworthy that during the hot weather, in the
best shops, very little meat is displayed; it is in the cold storage plant, but no
one contends that the sale of meat is thereby prejudiced. Any attempt to convert
the benches into imitation stalls is not in accordance with hygienic ideals. The
existence of stalls in market streets in the form allowed by the Regulations is
countenanced because it is thought their existence enables meat to be sold at
competitive prices and so tends to bring down the prices generally at which meat
is sold to the public.
In all instances in the Borough where meat is exposed for sale outside shops
or on stalls suitable screens are provided and used for the protection of meat, as
far as practicable, from dust, mud and other contaminating substances such as
soot; frequent; reinspections are made to see this is done.
Steps are being constantly taken to ensure that customers do not handle
butchers' meat; improvement has occurred. In shops where " pieces " are sold
a notice is exhibited urging customers not to handle meat before purchase, and
forks are provided to enable the pieces to be turned over by purchasers without
direct handling. As a result of their observations and enquiries the Inspectors
report that the forks so provided are generally used.
That these Regulations are reasonable is shown by the ready response of the
vendors to remedy any temporary omission either on their part or on the part of
their assistants; it has not been necessary to serve a notice for any breach of the
Regulations.
Places where Food is prepared for Sale.
Under this head are included kitchens of hotels, restaurants and eating-houses
of all sorts, slaughter-houses, tripe, offal and other meat, shops, fried fish, eel
and other fish shops, premises where ice cream is made, and other places where
food is prepared for sale, excluding bakehouses.

During the year 2,042 inspections of such food premises and market streets
were made and 45 notices served for sanitary defects found,