View report page

88
Unsound Food
Food Sampling
The practice continued during the year of taking formal samples only
in those cases where there was reason to believe a product was well below
the required standards, usually following an adverse report on an
informal sample.
1,110 informal samples were submitted for analysis, of which 69 were
either adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. Ten formal samples were
also submitted for analysis, of which six were either adulterated or otherwise
unsatisfactory. In the case of one of the formal samples, legal
proceedings were authorised, details of which are given at the end of this
section of the Report. The remaining five formal samples were dealt with
satisfactorily on an informal basis.
The results of all unsatisfactory samples were brought to the notice
of the producers, manufacturers or vendors as appropriate.
Complaints
During the year, 141 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, and the unsatisfactory condition of meat, fish,
sausage, pies, fruit, bread, sweets, cakes, milk, cheese, wine,
vegetables, yoghurt, fish, soft drinks, poultry, eggs, jam and soup.
Of these complaints, sixteen cases resulted in the Health Committee
instructing that legal proceedings be instituted. The remaining one
hundred and twenty-five cases were dealt with informally, either owing
to the lack of sufficient evidence, or to the complaint not being
substantiated.