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86
PROTECTION OF FOOD SUPPLY.
The work of the Local Health Authority with a
view to the protection of the food supply takes three
forms: (i) Supervision of premises where food is prepared
or sold, to ensure cleanliness; (ii) Examining
food as to its soundness; and (iii) Sampling food to
ascertain its composition and quality.
The whole sanitary inspecting staff co-operate in
exercising general supervision over the cleanly conduct
of the food trades. The conditions under which food
is sold in the street or from shops with open fronts still
gives room for much dissatisfaction.
Unsound food is much less frequently found than
in former years and in this as in the matter of cleanliness,
food traders and the public are rightly recognising
the need for higher standards.
The figures which follow illustrate the problems
which arise in testing the quality and nature of the
great variety of foodstuff's now in common use. We
had the disquieting experience this year of having
two summonses decided against the Council. In one
case it was held that as there was no specified quantity
of talc in the B.P. description of Aspirin tablets, the
Council could not prove excess. The other case was
dismissed on a technical point arising from the form
of the analyst's certificate, although the offence was
clear. We continue to experience difficulty in protecting
the people of the borough against adulteration and
misdescription owing to the absence of official standards
for many common articles of food. It is understood
that this matter is under consideration by the Ministry
of Health, and it is to be hoped that definite recommendations
and decisions will be made ere long.