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The Chief Officer of the Public Control Department submitted the following comments :—
"Of the 11 irregular samples of milk, 10 were in respect of 'new milk' sent by farmers to
premises in your Borough. Five samples of ' new milk,' involving two farmers, were found to be slightly
deficient in fat, but no action was taken in either case since samples of milk from accompanying churns
were found to be satisfactory. The remaining five samples of ' new milk,' all from one farmer, were
each found to contain traces of added water. At my request, an inspection was made at the farm by
the Oxfordshire County Council and the cause of the trouble was traced and corrected, whereupon no
further action was taken. Later samples have been satisfactory. The other sample concerned a bottle
of Channel Island milk containing a piece of glass. The retailer was prosecuted and fined £5 and
£3 3s. Od. costs.
Two samples of ice cream, from different retailers, were both found to be deficient in fat.
Subsequent samples, however, were all genuine and no action was taken.
The irregular fish sample concerned the sale of Witch fillets for Sole fillets. The retailer was
prosecuted and fined £2 and £2 2s. Od. costs.
The sale of pigs' liver for lambs' liver resulted in the vendor being prosecuted and fined £1 with
£1 Is. Od. costs.
In respect of one irregular sample of oranges, which were found to contain thiourea, an unauthorised
preservative, an official caution was issued to the importer.
One sample of Butter Bon-Bons, which were deficient in butter fat, is still under investigation.
The irregular sample of plums concerned the sale of ' Ponds Seedling' plums as ' Victoria '
plums, for which the retailer was prosecuted and fined £3 with £1 lis. 6d. costs."
The following work in connection with the inspection and supervision of food in the Borough
was carried out by the Public Control Department:—
(a) Special Designated Milk.— Three dairymen hold licences as dealer/processors of pasteurised
milk. Thirty inspections were made at the premises concerned, whilst 134 samples of pasteurised milk
from these sources were submitted for examination and found to be satisfactory.
(b) Tuberculosis Examination.— Fifty-one samples of milk were submitted for such examination
by animal innoculation. No adverse report was received.
(c) Merchandise Marks Act, 1887-1953.— Attention has been paid in particular to compliance
with the Imported Food Orders made under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. In this connection, the
marking of origin of meat, apples, tomatoes, poultry, dried fruit, butter and salmon was checked by 120
inspections, during which 1,641 displays or articles were examined. The only infringements detected
were of a minor nature and these were dealt with on the spot.
(d) Labelling of Food Order, 1953.— To ensure compliance with this Order, 33 premises were
visited and 126 articles of food were examined. No infringement of substance was discovered.
5'ood Hygiene.— The work of promoting sound standards of hygiene in food premises has
been steadily pursued. As far as possible, the plans of all premises which will be associated with the
preparation and sale of food are examined. In this way it is possible to influence the standard of
premises and equipment and consultation on these matters are welcomed. During the year, 1,049 visits
of inspection were paid with a view to securing " clean food, handled by clean hands and transported,
prepared and stored under clean conditions " and as a result of these visits the following works were
carried out
Cold water supplies provided, repaired or improved 1
Hot water supplies provided, repaired or improved 12
Water closets provided, repaired or improved 10
Washing facilities provided or improved 15
Ventilation provided or improved 2
Drainage provided or repaired 26
Dustbins provided 6
Yards paved or repaired 4
Walls and ceilings repaired or cleansed 46
Floors repaired 6
Premises cleansed 12
Protection of foodstuffs enforced 16
Equipment repaired or improved 13
Offensive accumulations removed 5
Nuisances abated and other action 8
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