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90
FOOD COMPLAINTS
The number of complaints received relating to food which
after sale has been found to contain foreign bodies or is out of
condition continues to give rise to concern. During the year 130
were received, being 29 in excess of the figure for 1969 and
amounting to one complaint for every other day the office was
open.
Twenty-four of these related to mouldy conditions found on
bread, flour, confectionery, pies, sausages, yoghurt, etc. This shows
an increase on the previous year and is most disappointing. In
June a letter was addressed to all retail outlets for these perishable
foodstuffs setting out in great detail the conditions to be observed
in their control. The presence of mould on meat products may not,
in itself, be harmful to the consumer. It will give rise to unpleasant
flavour but the the conditions which favour mould growth
are often identical with those which allow the multiplication of
food poisoning organisms to a dangerous level.
The Department's principle aim in dealing with food complaints
is the removal of conditions which have given rise to them.
After full investigation a warning may be given to a manufacturer
or a vendor. If advice is rejected or ignored legal proceedings
under the Food and Drugs Act are considered.

Foreign bodies identified in the specimens were:—
Bread and flour confectionery: Pieces of "fur", paper, wood,
glass, wire, matchsticks, plastic, string, bakehouse char, machine