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Unsound Food
Seizure
Under Part 1 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, it is an
offence to sell, offer, or expose for sale, or to be in possession
for the purpose of sale or preparation for sale, food intended for
human consumption which is in an unfit condition. Such food can
be seized and taken before a Justice of the Peace, who can condemn
it and order it to be destroyed or disposed of for purposes other
than human consumption.
During the year there were two occasions when it was found
necessary to enforce this procedure.
One case concerned a delicatessen shop where seven chickens
were found to be unfit for human consumption. They were seized and
taken before a Justice of the Peace who condemned them and ordered
that they be destroyed. Legal proceedings were instituted, but the
case was dismissed as it was proved to the satisfaction of the Court
that the defendants knew of the existence of the food, that it had
been put on one side of the cold store for disposal, and that all the
employees in the shop had been instructed not to use it.
The other case concerned packages of seeds and spices, all
of which were heavily infested by insects. The packages were
seized and taken before a Justice of the Peace who condemned them
and ordered that they be destroyed. Legal proceedings were
instituted, and the defendant was fined £10. 0s. 0d. with £2. 2s. 0d.
costs.
Surrender
Any person having in his possession food which is diseased,
unsound, or unfit for human consumption can, under Section 180(8) of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, surrender it to the Council
for destruction or other suitable method of disposal.

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.