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57
Street Markets
There are four market streets situated at Chapel Market, Exmouth
Market, Whitecross Street and Farringdon Road. A total of 590 stalls
were licenced by the Council at the end of 1958 of which 160 were
licensed for the sale of foodstuffs. A rota of week-end inspections
of street markets operates, and including the daily visits, a total of
6,037 inspections were made.
The difficulties of effectively administering the Food Hygiene
Regulations in so far as they affect market stalls in open streets, are
being given earnest consideration and it is hoped that by a system of
co-operation with the traders and the strength of public opinion on
this matter that a gradual improvement will be obtained and maintained.
The system adopted of issuing licences to stallholders for the
sale of foodstuffs subject to the approval of the conditions of sale
and storage by the Public Health Department, is working well, and shows
promise of an improvement in conditions generally.
Licensed Premises and Public Houses
Finsbury has 146 licensed premises, all but 22 of which are public
houses. The number of inspections carried out during the year was 193
of which 68 were visits in connection with the transfer of licenses
and other matters, under the Licensing Act 1953. These inspections
are also used for the investigations of matters requiring remedy under
the Public Health (London) Act or Food Hygiene Regulations.
During 1958, 22 premises were reported improved through action by
the Public Health (Food) Inspectors.
Pharmacy & Poisons Act 1933
A list of sellers of Part II Poisons under the Act is kept by the
Council. In 1958 37 applications for names to be placed on the list
were approved.
Inspections continue to be made in connection with this Act.
Fortunately no cases have been reported during the year which warranted
legal proceedings.
Unsound Food
No formal seizure and condemnation of food under Section 9 of the
Food & Drugs Act 1955 was necessary during the year. The system adopted
of encouraging traders to notify the department when they are in
possession of any suspected unsound food has now become the accepted
method, and in every case voluntary surrender of the unsound food is
readily agreed to by the trader. The amount of food dealt with remains
at a high figure because apart from the individual traders certain
multiple stores have their warehouses situated in Finsbury to which all
doubtful tins are returned from the retail shops for sorting and
inspection.