View report page

- 65 -

Unsound Food
Seizure
Under Part I of the Pood 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, it was found necessary to enforce this
procedure on three occasions.
One case concerned a self-service shop where six packets
of dried mixed fruit were found to be unfit for human consumption
due to an infestation of maggots. They were seized and taken before
a Justice of the Peace who condemned them and ordered them to be
destroyed. Legal proceedings were instituted and the defendant was
fined £15 and £3. 3s• 0d. costs.
A similar case occurred later in the year at the same shop
when fifteen packets of dried fruit were found to be unfit for human
consumption due to the presence of maggots. These were also seized
and taken before a Justice of the Peace who condemned them and ordered
them to be destroyed. Legal proceedings were instituted and the
defendant was fined £25 and £3. 3s. 0d. costs.
The third case concerned a grocery, delicatessen and
fruiterer's shop where mice infestation of the storerooms was found
on inspection, and considerable amounts of foodstuffs were found to
be contaminated by the excrement of mice. The food was seized and
taken before a Justice of the Peace who condemned them and ordered
them to be destroyed. Legal proceedings were instituted and the
defendant was fined £10.