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136
All the bread shops in Finsbury, indeed all the shops where
food is sold and prepared for sale, are subject to periodic inspection
; they are all visited and critically examined.
There are in Finsbury no special regulations which deal with
the storage of bread or food in general shops. It may be pointed
out, however, that the Public Health (Regulations as to Food)
Act, 1907, the Public Health Act, 1896, and the contained enactments
include the power of making regulations for the prevention
of danger arising to public health from the storage and distribution
of articles of food or drink (other than drugs or water)
intended for sale for human consumption.
The regulations included in the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1908, section 8, referring to premises used
for the sale, or deposit for sale, or preparation for sale of food
of man, are enforced in this Borough.
At the present time the regulation or even repression of the
practice of loaf exchange is a matter for the bakers themselves,
and could be effected by a common agreement or understanding
provided this were rigidly adhered to.
On the question of phthisis and infectious or contagious
disease, it is very deplorable that anyone so suffering should
handle bread, or any other food, or be in any way concerned in
the sale, preparation, or manufacture of any food product.
Further measures are needed in this connection.
It would appear desirable that all bakehouses, all breadshops,
including those attached to bakehouses, those on the same
premises as bakehouses, should be subject to an annual license
with the power of removal.
This would enable a local authority to deal more effectively
with matters such as the clean storage of flour, of the salt which
is oftentimes placed on the floor, with the prevalence of smoking