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96
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 foodstuffs now in common use.
CLEANLINESS IN THE FOOD TRADES.
Draft byelaws were prepared in February, 1934
by the London County Council under Section 6 of the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932,
to promote sanitary and cleanly conditions in the
manufacture, etc. of any article intended for the food
of man. These proposals, while containing many
much needed provisions for the protection of the public,
appear to be rather inadequate as regards personal
precautions. Particular attention should be given to
the need for every person concerned in food preparation
to keep his clothing, hands, finger nails and body
thoroughly clean, for which purpose food traders
should be required to provide their employees with
clean washable overalls and the means of personal