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37
INSPECTION OF PREMISES WHERE FOOD IS
PREPARED FOR SALE.
The London County Council proposes to promote legislation with
a view to conferring additional powers upon Sanitary Authorities
as to the inspection and control of premises where food is prepared
for sale. I am of opinion that powers to examine such premises,
and to require the removal of conditions subjecting food to the
risk of contamination, though very necessary, are scarcely sufficient
for the purpose. I have frequently drawn attention in past
annual reports to the desirability of regulating the conditions
under which food is prepared for sale, and I am of opinion that
all such premises should be regularly inspected and periodically
licensed exactly as cowsheds and slaughterhouses now are. The
County Council should have power to make bye-laws to be
enforced by the Borough Councils for the regulation of all
premises where bread or confectionery is baked, where aerated
waters and ice-creams are prepared, where meat, fish, game, fruit
or vegetables are cooked, either for sale over the counter or for
consumption on the premises. The law as to the conduct of dairies
is in a somewhat chaotic condition, and urgently requires
revision; this could be dealt with at the same time. With
regard to infectious disease, Section 69 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, deals only with notifiable infectious
disease, and takes no cognizance of syphilis, foul open sores, skin
disease, tuberculosis, cancer or vermin, and persons suffering from
any of these conditions may with impunity make bread or confectionery
and handle meat or vegetables or pick fruit. A
case was recently reported in the "Lancet'' where an operative
baker was found to be suffering from an active form of
secondary syphilis, yet was engaged all day long in making jam
tarts. No action could be taken under any clause of the Health
Act to stop this. Again, bakers and grocers frequently suffer
from itch, yet continue their occupations. Persons suffering
from infectious forms of tuberculosis are not prohibited from
handling food in course of preparation; yet there is no doubt
such continuance is fraught with danger to the public.