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Premises where Food is Prepared or Offered for Sale. Amongst there
other duties, five inspectors are specially concerned with this work and in the taking
of samples under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938 ; the Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations
; and the registration of all new premises under the Food and Drugs Act.
In addition, routine visits are paid by the district Sanitary Inspectors to all
food premises in the Borough and immediate action is taken in regard to any insanitary
condition found. Two women Inspectors devote a great deal of time to
the inspection of cafes, restaurants, canteens and eating houses. The total number
of inspections of food premises during the year was 3,637. In addition to canteens
there are some 309 restaurants and eating houses in the Borough. The task of
educating the food handler has been carried out by personal contact rather than
by public lecture. Generally the trade has responded well to the advice given ; the
great majority of those concerned appreciate the importance of a satisfactory
standard of hygiene. Food hygiene is discussed with kitchen staff at every possible
opportunity. Constant attention is given to the inspection of stalls in the markets.
Special inspections of bakehouses are carried out. Inspections during 1949
numbered 53 and 7 Notices were served. Conditions on the whole were satisfactory.
On the occasion of the quinquennial review of basement bakehouses carried out in
1948, certificates of suitability were issued in respect of five basement bakehouses.
The following is a summary of the registered food premises in the Borough at
the end of 1949, together with the number of inspections carried out during the year.

Meat Supply. Slaughterhouses are subject to annual licensing and there
are now only two licensed slaughterhouses in the Borough, one of which is not
being used at the present time. The Council's food inspectors engaged on the
inspection of meat supplies at the Plumstead Abattoir, again had a very busy year.
Due to the concentration of slaughtering at these premises, the equivalent of the
full-time services of more than three inspectors was required for the inspection
of carcases. Compared with the previous year, 10,168 more carcases were inspected
in 1949. This was due to a large increase in the number of sheep, lamps and pigs
being slaughtered. As the arrival of beasts for slaughter is irregular and as all carcases
must be inspected almost immediately after slaughter, the staff were frequently
kept late on duty.
The following table gives details of the number of animals slaughtered daring
1949.
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