View report page

(45)
INSPECTION & SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
SLAUGHTERMEN'S LICENCES.
The Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933,provides that no animal shall be
slaughtered in a slaughterhouse or knacker's yard by any person who is
not a holder of a licence granted by a local authority.
A licence may only be granted to a person aged 18 years or upwards
who is, in the opinion of the local authority, a fit and proper person to
hold a licence. A licence remains in force for a period up to three
years and may be renewed from time to time at the discretion of the local
authority.
During 1951, two such licences were issued to slaughtermen resident
in the Borough of Fulham.
There are no slaughterhouses in the Borough and no animals are killed
for human consumption.
UNSOUND FOOD.
During 1951, 1,395 Certificates of Condemnation were issued by the
Food Inspectors relating to the under-mentioned voluntarily surrender ed
foods-
Meat 4,234 lbs.
Ham 1,801 lbs.
Sausages 46½ lbs.
Fish 69 stone.
Tinned Goods 16,929 tins .
Other Goods 13,084¾ lbs.
The large amount of tinned ham which the Council's Food Inspectors
were called upon to deal with during the year gave rise to some concern
among the members of the Public Health Committee to whom details of all
foodstuffs condemned as unfit for human consumption are. regularly given.
On the instructions of the Committee the matter was brought to the
notice of the appropriate department of the Ministry of Food who pointed
out that the Ministry was not responsible for the purchase,importation or
distribution of tinned hams, these being brought in by private traders on
open general licence. The Ministry was, however, concerned with the
"official certificate" which is recognised for the purposes of the Public
Health (Imported Food) Regulations 1937 and 1948 and which is a guarantee
that in the country of origin every precaution has been taken in the preparation
of the canned ham so as to prevent any possible danger to public
health.