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22
The Food and Drugs Inspectors reported four cases where
food was being wrapped in contravention of Section 6 (a) of the
London County Council Byelaws for the Protection of Food, in
that newsprint was used in such a manner that it came in direct
contact with the food. Letters of warning were sent in each
case.
During the year two seizures of unsound chocolates were
made under Section 10 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938. The
chocolates, which contained the larval form of the insect
Ephestia Elutella, were found in two retail shops in the Borough
owned by one company. It was found that the chocolates were
manufactured by two different manufacturers and were stored
for various periods at the retail shops' warehouse situate in
another part of London. Inspections made at the shops and the
warehouse revealed no obvious infestation. The infestation
was reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, who
instructed a representative of the Infestation Control Division
to visit the premises concerned and investigate. It was found
that from the dates of arrival of both types of chocolates at the
Company's warehouse, infestation could have taken place there,
or at the shops.
Since the warehouse and the two shops in question were all
found to be in a clean and tidy condition, this case is an example
of the care which must be taken to protect food from insect
infestation, and of the potential ability of the moth to turn up
in places apparently free from it.
Many boxes of chocolates are flimsily constructed and have
an inadequate cellophane cover which can easily be penetrated,
not only by larvae, but by moths for egg laying.
As a precautionary measure at the two premises concerned,
it was recommended that a regular spraying routine should be
carried out during the emergence period of the moth the following
year, that is, from August until September.
The Food and Drugs Inspectors accepted the voluntary
surrender of foodstuffs which upon examination were found to
be unfit for human consumption. A list showing the amount
involved is shown in the statistical supplement.
Sampling.
Throughout the year 1,298 samples of food and drugs were
submitted to the Public Analyst for chemical analysis. Of this
number 27 or 2% samples were reported to be non-genuine; this
represents a slight increase on last year.