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12
SECTION D
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
Food and Drugs Act, 1938
Meat and Other Foods
Shops, stalls, vehicles and premises where food intended for
human consumption is prepared, stored, etc., were subjected
to routine inspection throughout the year. The number of
visits made to this class of premises during 1951 totalled 3,725.
At 50 of these premises unsatisfactory conditions constituting
contraventions under Section 13 of the Food and Drugs Act,
1938, were found to exist and appropriate action was taken.
Legal proceedings were taken in one case, and penalties and
costs amounting to £5 6s. 0d. were imposed.
Four seizures of unsound chocolate were made under
Section 10 of the Act. In each case the chocolate was rendered
unfit by the larvae of the cacao moth (Ephestia Elutella).
Investigations were made into the source of the infestation
and the matter reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries.
As distinct from the above, a large quantity of unsound
foods which did not call for action under Section 10 of the
Food and Drugs Act, 1938, was voluntarily surrendered.
A considerable percentage of this consisted of imported
tinned hams. These hams (average weight 14 lbs.) came
mainly from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
Holland, Italy and Poland.
It was generally found that the chief causes of unsoundness
were due to (a) under cooking, (b) poor tin plate, (c) improper
curing, (d) punctured and damaged tins. The source of most
of these faults would appear to be economic factors governing
production or inexperience in canning practice.
Sampling
1,600 samples of food and drugs were submitted to the
Public Analyst during the year for chemical analysis. Of this
number, 2 informal samples and 1 formal sample were
reported to be non-genuine. This represents only 0.18 per
cent. and shows a further decrease in comparison with the
low figure of 0.4 per cent. reported last year.
Sampling of food for the purpose of identification has been
continued and in the case of one sample of apples sold as
Cox's Orange Pippins, identification showed them to be
Charles Ross. In this instance, legal proceedings were taken,
a plea of guilty was made, and three guineas costs were
awarded against the vendor.
A number of samples of shellfish sold from stalls and
barrows in the Borough taken for bacteriological examination
were found to be satisfactory.