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Food Poisoning.
Twelve notifications of food poisoning were received and 2 mild outbreaks were reported in 1950, but
despite many investigations no particular food was found responsible.
The two outbreaks occurred in a large factory at Park Royal and in a local hospital; 40 people were
affected in each outbreak. The menu supplied by the factory canteen was varied, and it was impossible to
identify the food which was the cause of the outbreak. Bacteriological examination of the stools of all
affected persons gave negative results. Chicken was the food suspected in the hospital outbreak, but all
bacteriological results were negative, although it is possible that the portions eaten were infected. The
symptoms were mild and all bacteriological examinations of stools were negative.
Food is often contaminated in the home by unsatisfactory methods of storing, preparing and serving.
At the present time, the facilities for storing, cooking, and serving food in many homes are very poor, and bad
housing conditions are thus often responsible for increasing the risks of food poisoning. Many families are
living in one or two-room flats which are not provided with a well-ventilated larder. Special attention has,
therefore, been given to the provision of properly ventilated food stores when Housing Act notices have been
served. Lack of adequate washing facilities in the home makes it difficult to maintain a satisfactory standard
of personal cleanliness; dirty cooking utensils, dirty plates and dirty food are not always due to lax and careless
habits : they are often due to the absence of wash basins, sinks and hot water. This makes it almost
impossible for even the most conscientious to maintain reasonable hygienic standards in the preparation and
service of food in the home.
The improvement in housing conditions with the provision of adequate washing facilities is an
essential step in the prevention of ill health caused by infected food.
Clean Food Campaign.
Willesden Hygienic Food Committee formed in May, 1948, was renamed the Willesden Clean Food
Guild on 26th July, 1950. The Guild expanded the work of securing, as far as possible, the highest standard
of cleanliness in the handling, preparation and storage of food. Education is the keynote to the activities of
the Guild, for the trader, for the food handling employee, and for the housewife.
The Codes of Practice drawn up in 1949 applied to all those in the food trades who are entitled to
display the Guild's clean food certificate. The certificate is renewable annually, and is liable to be withdrawn.
At the end of 1949, 263 of 1,400 traders in the borough had applied for registration, 195 had been
approved for certificates, and the remaining 68 deferred or refused. The Committee decided to cancel the
payment of the 10/- fee payable on application, and all the traders were again invited to join. Another 135
traders applied for registration and 107 certificates were issued and 28 were deferred or refused. The number
of traders enrolled as members of the Guild is not high, but the proportion is higher than in other districts.

Premises Registered in Connection With the Manufacture of Preserved Food, etc.
The registration of Dremises for the sale and storage of preserved food was granted in one case.