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17
SECTION D
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
Food and Drugs Act, 1938.
Meat and Other Foods.
The supervision of the food supplies of the community is
one of the most important duties which devolves upon the Health
Committee. The maintenance of frequent inspection of all
kinds of premises where food is sold, stored and manufactured
for human consumption is the key to a successful service.
Conditions vary according to the nature of the trade carried
on, the type of person or employee engaged, working conditions
and structural arrangements, all of which have a direct bearing
on the final product consumed by the public.
The careless handling of food or storage under unsuitable
conditions are a major danger. Food in good condition, unless
suitable and proper precautions are taken, easily becomes contaminated
by bacteria, dirt, dust or vermin.
The Food and Drugs Act, 1938/52 is the principal Act under
which premises and the handling of food in general are controlled.
During the 15 years since the passing of this Act, its
shortcomings have become increasingly obvious. It has been
found that its scope is too limited to provide for the higher
standard of hygiene required for the public and enlightened
sections of the food industry.
In view of this, two distinct Working Parties were appointed
by the Minister of Food. The first of these, the Catering Trade
Working Party was appointed in 1948 to make recommendations
to the Ministers of Food and Health as to the precautions considered
practicable and desirable with a view to securing the
observance of sanitary and cleanly conditions in the catering
trade. The second, the Manufactured Meat Products Working
Party, was appointed in 1949 to review present trade practice
and legal requirements for ensuring that conditions in the meat
manufacturing trades are clean and sanitary, and that the products,
and the materials from which they are prepared, are
wholesome in all respects and to consider if new legislation was
desirable.
Following the reports of these Working Parties it was
decided that a new statute should be introduced. This is now
nearing fulfilment in the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Bill
which is at present before Parliament.
In the meantime, the introduction in November, 1952, of
the London County Council Byelaws for the Protection of Food
has provided some help in this direction. These byelaws were