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8
Up to the end of the year eighteen burials have been
carried out in Hammersmith at a total cost of £186 16s. Of
this amount £79 18s. 5d. has been recovered.
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1938.
Meat and other Foods.
Routine inspections of shops, stalls, vehicles and premises
where food and drink intended for human consumption is
sold, stored and prepared have been made throughout the
Borough during the year. The number of inspections of food
premises made during 1950 totalled 3,673.
Four seizures of unsound food were made under Section 10
of the Act. The commodities involved were dried milk,
bread and dates, and in each case they were taken before
a magistrate who ordered the destruction of the foodstuffs
as being unfit for human consumption.
Quant ities of unsound food were also voluntarily surrendered
during the year (see list in Statistical Supplement).
Sampling.
As the result of the appointment of a second Food and
Drugs Inspector in the spring of this year, there has been a
large increase in the number of samples taken for chemical
analysis. During the year 1,413 samples of food and drugs
were submitted for chemical analysis to the Public Analyst
under the provisions of the above Act. Only six samples
(or .4 per cent.) were reported adulterated.
It is of interest to mention that for the first time samples
of fish and fruit have been taken for the purpose of identification. All the specimens sampled have been confirmed as
properly advertised at the time of sale. In the case of fish,
certificates were obtained from the Public Analyst in verification, and each sample of fruit was submitted for examination
to the Royal Horticultural Society.
Ice Cream.
Nineteen premises were registered during the year. At the
end of 1950 the total number of registrations in compliance
with Section 14 of the Act were 244. The Food and Drugs
Inspectors made 342 visits to premises where ice-cream is sold,
stored or manufactured.
Since 1949 samples of ice-cream taken for bacteriological
examination have been submitted for testing to the Public
Health Laboratory Service, Colindale. Prior to this, bacteriological examinations were carried out in the Borough at the
West London Hospital.