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116
SECTION G
Greenwich Guild of Hygiene
Guidance, encouragement and official recognition of effort was
given to the local food traders by the inauguration of the Guild of
Hygiene last year and it is to be recorded that progress towards a
higher standard of cleanliness among food handlers continued
unabtted.
At the Annual General Meeting of the Guild, presided over by
His Woiship the Mayor, Councillor P. Noble, J.P., it was disclosed
that during the current year a further 19 Certificates of Hygiene had
been awarded, bringing the total number of certificates issued to 65.
An opportunity was taken at this meeting, after a short introduction
by the Medical Officer of Health, to show to the members
present, three films from the Central Office of Information, viz :
" The Town Rat," " The Good Housewife in her Kitchen " and
" Behind the Menu."
Following the film exhibition, which was very well received, the
meeting was opened for what became a very lively and interesting
hour of " question and answer " on Food and the Public Health.
It can be said that the meeting proved to be highly satisfactory.
As a result of the formation of the Guild, food traders are
improving their methods of food handling and production, and
interest has been generally stimulated. In premises where food is
handled or sold, notable improvements such as wall tiling, glass
counter guards, etc., are now being voluntarily introduced. This
latter refinement is a considerable achievement, not only giving
protection to provisions and other foods eaten as purchased, but in
particular, preventing the indiscriminate handling of food by the
less enlightened patrons as well as guarding the stock against the
coughing and sneezing of customers in the near vicinity.
The increasing number of certificates on elisplay throughout the
Borough is undoubtedly causing other traders to consider membership
of the Guild and new aspirants are given aelvice and every
technical assistance in order that their premises may reach the
required standard.
For the future, while maintaining the stimulation of hygiene
among traders, it is sound tactics to inculcate the local populace
with the necessity of dealing only with hygienic shopkeepers. From
this point it is a logical step to impress upon the younger generation,
at the appropriate time, the vital need of hygiene now and in
their future employment. It is hoped that, if the authorities are
amenable, a series of lectures in local schools will be given and
suitable diagrams used to create lasting impressions of this important
aspect of the national life in order that many undesirable habits
inimical to the community may be checked.