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46
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
There are no offensive trades, slaughterhouses or licensed slaughtermen in the
Borough.
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1955
Sections 8 and 9
Examination of Food and Seizure of Unsound Food
Certain articles of food which are liable to be adulterated are controlled by
sampling and chemical analysis by the Public Analyst, but foods which deteriorate in
quality and become unfit for human consumption are supervised by inspection and seizure
with subsequent condemnation by a Justice of the Peace and destruction.
In May 1956, 23 boxes of unfit cherries were seized from a market stall and
condemned by a Justice of the Peace. In addition the proprietor voluntarily surrendered
a further 27 boxes of cherries from his storage premises. Subsequently at the Petty
Sessions the proprietor was fined 20s., with 10s. 6d. costs to the Council, for offering
for sale cherries which were unfit for human consumption.
Voluntary Surrender of Food
In practice, shopkeepers make very little attempt to sell to the public any food
stuff which is unfit for human consumption and it is customary for retailers who find
food they have purchased from wholesalers to be unsound at the time they receive it or to
have become unfit after storage on their premises to notify the local authority, and
request an inspection by the district public health inspector who will, if satisfied
after examination that the food is unfit, issue a certificate to that effect and arrange
for its removal to, and destruction at, the Council' s Refuse Destructor.
During 1956, 1, 446 Certificates of Condemnation were issued by the public health
inspectors relating to the under-mentioned voluntarily surrendered foods:-

Fish
36½ Stone
Meat
2,681½ lbs.