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40
In the early part of the present year (1927), a conference on the Public Health
(Meat) Regulations was held at the Royal Sanitary Institute. Attention was
drawn to the lack of uniformity in carrying out the Regulations in different
administrative areas, and consequent dissatisfaction in the meat trade. Reference
was also made to the different experiences by local authorities in their efforts
to obtain glass fronts to butchers' shops; there was, however, evidence that
butchers who had studied the question, from the economical standpoint, kept
their meat behind closed glass windows and so prevented the meat losing its
bloom, thus necessitating sale at a cheaper rate. It was pointed out that in a
large provincial town two firms, one with fifty and one with forty branches, had
provided fixed glass windows to all their shops with no loss of trade when the
practice of hanging up meat outside the shops was discontinued.
In connection with the difficulties arising from the sale of meat from street
stalls, reference was made to the practice in some continental towns where all
meat exposed for sale on meat stalls has to be kept behind glass.
Places where Food is prepared for Sale.
Under this head are included kitchens of hotels, restaurants and eating-houses
of all sorts, slaughter-houses, tripe, offal and other meat shops, fried fish, eel
and other fish shops premises where ice cream is made, and other places where
food is prepared for sale, excluding bakehouses.

During the year 2,587 inspections of food premises and market streets were
made and 27 notices served for sanitary defects found.
Sanitary Accommodation for Customers at Restaurants, etc.
The question arises from time to time of the necessity for the provision in
restaurants of sanitary accommodation for customers of both sexes. Many of the
larger and better equipped restaurants provide suitable accommodation, a much
appreciated boon, particularly in Central London, where such restaurants are
largely used by strangers to the Metropolis. There is something to be said in
favour of such provision being required in all restaurants, or at least in all the
larger establishments, although everyone recognises that in crowded areas where
space is valuable it is not always easy to spare the superficial area. At
times the nearness of public sanitary conveniences renders provision in a
restaurant less imperative. Under various local Acts relating to provincial towns
sanitary accommodation must be provided for customers.