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45
Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924. Meat inspection is carried
out by the Sanitary Inspectors. Arrangements have been made whereby
adequate notice of the time of slaughter is obtained. In 1925, the number
of animals inspected at the time of slaughter was 270 (268 pigs and two
calves). No application for the marking of meat under the Regulations
has been received.
Instructions under the Regulations have been formulated to deal with
stalls, shops, stores and vehicles. These have been approved by the
Council and circulated amongst traders concerned. No meat stalls
exist in the Borough at the present time.
A deputation of the local Butchers Association has also been received
and improvement has already taken place in the conditions under which
meat is stored, exposed for sale and transported.
Unsound Food. On four occasions during the year unsound food was
surrendered and destroyed. Included in the food surrendered was:—
40 stone of Pork, 5 stone of Fish and 2 cwts. of Mussels. The number
of carcases destroyed on account of Tuberculosis was one—a pig.
Food Poisoning. No cases of food poisoning were brought to the
notice of the Department during the year.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts. Four hundred samples, including 100
samples of milk and six samples of cream, were taken and submitted
for analysis during 1925. Six of these samples (all of which proved
genuine) were investigated by the former Public Analyst to the Borough
and 394 by the present holder of the appointment, Mr. B. H. Gerrans,
F.I.C., whose Report is set out in the appendix.
Each of the three male Sanitary Inspectors is appointed an Inspector
under the Acts. Under their direction, the taking of samples is effected
by individuals temporarily employed for the purpose, the services of
persons outside the borough being frequently utilised.
The samples procured are of two kinds—formal and informal. Formal
samples are those taken strictly in conformity with the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act, 1875. Informal samples are those taken without these
strict formalities and afford useful indication of the conditions without
disclosing to the vendor that the object of purchase is analysis.
No legal proceedings are possible in respect of an informal sample, but,
when adulteration is discovered, formal samples are obtained immediately
and necessary action taken on receipt of the analytical report regarding
them.
In 1925, two samples of milk were found adulterated to such a degree
as to justify legal proceedings. These proceedings were instituted but
the summonses were dismissed on the defendants proving a warranty
in each case. Details of these prosecutions are given in Table No. 27.