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76
FOOD PREMISES.
Milkshops and Dairies.
38* applications for registration were considered.
The figures in regard to registration of Milkshops
are set out below:—
Number of purveyors of milk on register at
end of 1937 367
Deduct number of purveyors removed from
register during the year 50
Add number of new purveyors added to
register by resolution of the Public
Health Committee during the year 38
Number of purveyors of milk on register at
end of 1938 355
During the year 757 inspections of milkshops were
made by the Inspectors, and 102 notices were served
under the Public Health (London) Act.
I have to draw attention to the abnormally large
number of milk shops which have been registered in
the Borough. The above mentioned figure (355)
represents a milkshop to every 267 residents in the
Borough. A high ratio seems to be general in East
London. In the neighbouring boroughs of Hackney,
Poplar, Shoreditch and Stepney, the average is one
milkshop per 341 residents, but in the four West
End boroughs it is only 1 per 614. Notwithstanding
the substantial fall in the population, the number of
milkshops in Bethnal Green has increased from 245
in 1925, 260 in 1930 to 326, 354, 367 and 355 in the
last four years. It is true that a great many of these
so called milkshops are really "general" shops where
milk is only sold in bottles, but the existence of such
a considerable number of milk traders leads to undue
competition, and temptation to adulteration. When
* This includes changes of occupier in premises previously on the register.