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All food condemned as unfit for human consumption is collected
by the Council, taken to their refuse destructor in Wood Lane and destroyed.
In no instance were large quantities of food involved, necessitating
special examination of stocks of food.
Complaints by purchasers of unfit food
During the year, twenty-eight complaints were received from
members of the public, alleging the unsatisfactory condition of food purchased
by them in the borough. The complaints generally related to the presence
of foreign matter in foods, mouldy condition of meat pies, bread and cakes,
and the unsatisfactory condition of chicken, pearl barley, sweets, meat,
baked beans and fishpaste.
In one case the Public Health Committee authorised legal
proceedings being taken against the manufacturers of a loaf of bread, the
external surface of which was dirty. At the Court hearing (February, 1959)»
the firm pleaded guilty and were fined £2. Os. Od. and £2. 2s. Od. costs were
awarded to the Council.
In a further fourteen cases, the Public Health Committee decided
to send warnings to the vendors.
The remaining thirteen cases were dealt with by informal action,
either owing to lack of proper evidence, or to the complaint not being
substantiated.
Adulteration of Food
During the year, six hundred and twenty-four formal samples of
food and drugs were purchased, of which twenty-seven (4.3%) were either
adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. Three hundred and seventy-six
informal samples were also purchased, of which twenty-seven (7.2%) were
either adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. The following table
summarizes the action taken in respect of the defective samples:-