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6
The root of the problem is the low standard of hygiene in food
handling which the nation generally is prepared to accept without
complaint and the lack of knowledge of elementary food hygiene by the
majority of food handlers Many of the persons working in food
handling are employed casually or temporarily There is a constant
turnover in personnel and this prevents any serious attempt at proper
training in the hygiene of food handling. The only hope would appear
to be raising the status of food handlers to attract persons to it as a
permanent career and to require proper training of all persons engaged
in the trade.
Large sums have been spent by the catering trade to modernise food
shops and fittings but until the food handler is properly trained and
educated to use them, then the public health is still endangered. As
an example, I have seen an assistant in a Cafe which was equipped with
modern protective display cabinets, etc. and provided with plastic
"forceps" for the hygienic handling of the exposed sandwiches and
cakes, actually placing the sandwiches into the "forceps" by hand,
thereby completely negativing the safeguards for which the forceps were
provided. In a different establishment, I have seen the reverse
procedure taking place with fancy cakes!
Under the Pood Hygiene Regulations, proper facilities for the
washing of hands are required in food handling premises. Unfortunately,
almost without exception, the hand washing facilities provided to
comply with the law are so sited that they are rarely or never used by
the staff. It would appear that food shops or restaurants, etc which
value their reputations have missed a golden opportunity to place staff
hand-washing facilities in positions where not only would they be
convenient for frequent use by the staff whilst working but also where
customers could see the staff using them Unfortunately, as long as
the public is prepared to accept appallingly low standards of hygiene
in food handling premises, little progress can be expected I would
emphasise that mere compliance with the letter of the law by the
provision of hand washing facilities for use by food-handling staff,
cannot protect the public health It is the regular, frequent and
proper use of these facilities that is the safeguard.
Domestic rubbish
During the year the Council approved a scheme of the Works and
Highways Committee whereby the collection of domestic refuse was
widened in scope to include the removal, free of charge, of old
furniture, bicycles, carpets and general lumber. Previously such
items had only been removed for payment and, as a result, there were
few houses in the Borough which had not got old lumber stored in the
yard or garden or on the roof of outbuildings, etc. This practice was
most undesirable. It led to the dumping of rubbish in open spaces.
The lumber formed harbourage for rats and, if against a wall of a
house, it encouraged dampness and disrepair. It could also be a
source of infection for wood worm and dry rot and, in addition, these
collections of rubbish were an eyesore to neighbours and a disfigurement
to the Borough. The new arrangement for the removal of rubbish is
heartily welcomed by the Public Health Department and has proved of
great assistance