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FOOD HYGIENE REGULATIONS 1955
"You can lead a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink". So runs the
adage. And you can provide all the facilities for the maintenance of high standards
of hygiene in foodshops, and they may still remain unappreciated by some members of
the staff.
More and more shops during the year were transformed from sometimes forbidding
appearance to havens of bright lights, cleanly fixtures and attractive displays, many
changing from the service-by-assistant to self service at the same time. The cleanliness
and smartness of the staff can harmonise with the new surroundings, but it is
distressing when they do not. Is anything more unfortunate that to enter such a shop
and be assisted by someone whose apparel is out of tune with the cleanly shelves and
bright displays, or whose hair hangs in a limp mass on to the shoulders, or whose
hands and finger nails indicate that use is not being made of the hot water, soap and
nail brushes provided?
Once more, the proprietor, or the manager of food premises (and usually one or
two senior members of the staff in the latter case) seem to be the ones who are
willing to make the Regulations work and consciously take pride in the manner in which
they handle foodstuffs. They are often assisted by others whose interest does not
extend beyond the rate-for-the-job and the ensuing wage packet, and it is amongst this
type of person where continuous education is most necessary and most difficult.
The case was never stronger for the inclusion in the curriculum of those in their
last year at school, for instruction in food handling, and how loss and waste can be
avoided by care and cleanliness.
The tendency noted last year for members of the public to voice their feelings
where food was being unsatisfactorily handled, or cleanliness was of a low order continued,
and this is greatly welcomed by public health department officers.
During the year, the first prosecution in Fulham for smoking in a foodshop was
taken when a local trader was charged in respect of two incidents. He was fined 5s.
on each charge.
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ANALYST
THOMAS McLACHLAN, A C.G F.C., F R. I.C., M. I. Biol.
During the year 1958, 800 samples of food and drugs were examined. Of these 218
were taken formally and 582 informally.
The number adulterated or about which some comment was made was 75.
The incidence of complaint may be classified as follows'-