View report page

INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Supervision of Food.
There are two officers of the Council whose duties are mainly
concerned with the supervision of food—the Food and Drugs
Inspector and Sampling Officer and the Food Inspector.
Broadly speaking, the duties of these appointments are divided
as follows : the former officer being responsible for obtaining
samples of food and drugs for analysis and the latter the supervision
of premises in which food is stored, sold or prepared for sale.
Chemical and Bacteriological Examination of Food.
The chemical and bacteriological analyses of samples submitted
under the provisions of the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act,
1928, and the various Food Regulations were conducted by the
Public Analyst, Mr. Martin Priest, F.I.C., and by the Council's
Bacteriologist, Dr. G. Bousfield respectively.
Particulars of the samples analysed appear on pages 66 and 67.
Nutrition.
Knowledge of the subject of nutrition is conveyed to the
residents of the Borough by the general distribution of a leaflet
entitled " The Housewife and her food problems " and by diet
sheets prepared by Clinic Medical Officers for circulation to mothers
attending the Infant Welfare Centres.
Milk Supply.
In previous Annual Reports I have referred to the necessity for
compulsory pasteurisation as an effective measure of protection
against contamination of milk from human and other sources. In
view of the importance of ensuring a safe milk supply, it is hoped
that in the near future legislation will be passed enabling local
authorities to require the efficient pasteurisation of milk sold by
retail in its area.
The inspection of dairies and milkshops is undertaken by the
District Sanitary Inspectors.
There is one cowhouse in the Borough licensed for 47 cows.
The bulk of the milk produced at this establishment is retailed to
families living in close proximity to these premises. The cowhouse
and the attached dairy were inspected on 12 occasions during the
year, usually while milking was in progress.
Milk and Dairies Order, 1926.
Under the provisions of this Order a register is required to be
kept of all persons in the Borough carrying on the trade of cowkeeper,
dairyman or purveyor of milk and all premises used as
dairies.