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In November of the year under review, the Council considered
a report by their Medical Officer of Health as to the
desirability and possibility of conducting a Clean Food Campaign
in the Borough. It was decided that a Camberwell Clean Food
Association should be set up on the lines suggested in the report
and the initial steps in its formation have been taken. The
objects of this Association will be:—
(a) To promote clean methods of handling food among persons
engaged in the food trades in the Borough.
(b) To encourage the observance of all statutory standards
of food hygiene.
(c) To urge all food traders in Camberwell to become members.
Membership will be conditional upon the applicant undertaking
to observe the Code of Practice laid down and will be
subject to the applicant's premises complying with the requirments
of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and any other
legislation in force.
Mineral Oil in Food.
This Authority has been concerned for some time on medical
grounds about the practice of using paraffin and other such
commodities in the preparation of food. It is considered that
medicinal paraffin, even if deposited in various organs in the
body, would not be harmful, but the same cannot be said for
other mineral oils. Nevertheless, the regular consumption of
paraffin, whether medicinal or not, dissolves Vitamins A and D
and inhibits the assimilation of these vitamins by the digestive
system.
Having regard to the harmful effects which might result from
the indiscriminate use of mineral oils, its use in the composition
or preparation of any food intended for sale or sold for human
consumption was prohibited under the Mineral Oil in Food
Order, 1949, with the exception that it is allowed to be present
in a very small proportion where its presence is due, not to
inclusion as an ingredient, but to its use as a lubricant or greasing
agent on a surface with which the article of food necessarily
comes into contact during preparation.
During the year, 102 samples, comprising cakes (various) 60,
potatoes (chipped and crisped) 32, doughnuts 6, Swiss rolls 2,
shortcakes 1, and jam tarts 1, were examined for the presence
of mineral oil, but in no case was a positive reaction obtained.