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The premises of each new applicant for registration are inspected in order to
ensure that they are satisfactory and that the requirements of the Heat Treatment
Regulations are fully understood. It was found necessary to refuse one application
for registration of premises for the sale of ice cream, owing to the unsatisfactory
condition of the premises.
During the year 33 samples of ice cream were submitted to the Laboratory for
grading by the Methylene Blue test, and the results were as follows:-
Grade I 28
Grade II 5
Grade III Nil
Grade IV Nil
Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act, 1954.
During the year legislation with the object of revising the existing statutory
provisions contained in the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, for the protection of the
public against the sale of food containing injurious ingredients, and against the
mis-description of food on labels and advertisements, was passed. This Act is also
intended to give further powers to local authorities to secure that food is not contaminated
in the course of its preparation, distribution, and sale.
The Act empowers the Ministers of Food and Health to make regulations for
controlling the composition of food, the use of substances in the preparation of food,
and the sale and importation of food.
The Minister may make regulations to provide for the issue by local authorities
of licences in respect of the use of vehicles, stalls or places other than premises for
the preparation, exposure or offer for sale of food for human consumption, and
for prohibiting the use of this type of vehicle or stall except in accordance with a
licence issued under the regulations.
Itinerant Vendors.
Surveillance of street traders in the Borough continued throughout the year. A
good standard of cleanliness was maintained in respect of these vehicles. In one
instance it became necessary to serve a notice in respect of a vehicle which was not
displaying the name and address of the trader.
Meat Inspection.
The inspection of meat at the Plumstead Abattoir is carried out daily by three
of the Council's Sanitary Inspectors specially qualified in this work. The following
tables give details of the number of animals slaughtered and inspected at the
Abattoir during the year 1954.