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44
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. During the year
the number of animals inspected at the time of slaughter was 453 (131
pigs, 320 sheep, and 2 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.
Unsound Food. On six occasions during the year unsound food was
surrendered and destroyed. Included in the food surrendered was :—
1 chicken, 4 boxes of eggs, 50 lbs. salmon, 2 stone of haddock, and
1 bag of whelks. 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 and two samples,
including 161 samples of milk and two samples of cream, were taken and
submitted for analysis during the year. These samples were investigated
by the Public Analyst to the Borough, Mr. B. H. Gerrans, F.I.C.,
whose Report is set out in the appendix.
Each of the four 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.
During the year, five samples of milk were found adulterated to such
a degree as to justify legal proceedings. These proceedings were
instituted and four convictions were obtained. Details of these proceedings
are given in Table No. 26.
The work carried out under the Food and Drugs Acts during the year
is summarized in the Public Analyst's Report in the appendix.