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Clean Food.
In September, 1953, the Ministry of Food issued a Circular
(MF 16/53) drawing attention to a booklet which had been
prepared entitled " Clean Catering," in which advice was given
on the importance of maintaining, and on practical ways of
securing, the highest possible standards of hygiene in catering
establishments. This booklet was published by Her Majesty's
Stationery Office at 2s. 6d. per copy. On the instructions of the
Public Health Committee, a copy for each Sanitary Inspector
was obtained in order that they should be conversant with its
contents and bring it to the notice of the managements of all
catering establishments in their respective districts.
The following month the Ministry of Health issued a
Circular relating to the Clean Food Campaign and enclosing a
copy of a new coloured wall sheet showing some of the ways in
which food can become contaminated through faulty " handhygiene ";
by uncovered cuts and sores or dirty bandages, by
germs conveyed from nose or mouth, by hands contaminated
after using the W.C. Local authorities were invited to order,
free of charge, as many copies as they could profitably use and,
with the approval of the Public Health Committee, 500 of these
wallsheets were obtained and distributed to all food premises
in the Borough, with a covering letter inviting the proprietors to
co-operate by displaying them in a prominent position at their
premises for the information of all persons engaged in the
handling of food.
Hygiene in Hospital Catering Establishments.
In addition to lecturing on hygiene to the catering staffs at
Hulwich, St. Francis' and St. Giles' Hospitals, the Medical
Officer of Health, at the invitation of the Camberwell Hospitals
Management Committee, undertook an inspection of the catering
departments at each of these hospitals and forwarded to the
Group Secretary reports on his findings and recommendations for
improving the standard of hygiene and cleanliness in order to
reduce to a minimum the danger of an outbreak of food poisoning
among the patients and/or staff.
Similar action was taken in respect of the Babies Hospital,
Sydenham Hill, at the request of the Bromley Group Hospital
Management Committee. Both Committees expressed their
thanks and appreciation for the co-operation and assistance given
in this matter.