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19
I am grateful for the continued co-operation of the Ministry of Food
and the food traders in connection with numerous problems of food
salvage.
At the beginning of the year, a series of lectures, and practical
demonstrations on food and drink infections and the hygiene of food
premises were given by Dr. Norman C. Parfit, of the Central Council for
Health Education, at the Children's Hospital, Swiss Cottage.
Some 400 invitations to attend were sent out to all the restaurateurs,
bakehouse proprietors and Catering Workers' Associations in the Borough.
The response, despite repeat invitations and personal calls by the Sanitary
Inspectors, was extremely disappointing, only some thirty food traders
attending.
All new applications for catering licences and transfers of existing
licences are referred to me and the premises visited by the Sanitary
Inspectors before approval by the Food Executive Committee, with the
object of encouraging improvements in the general hygienic conditions
and sanitary and ablutionary accommodation of such establishments.
Special visits were paid by the Sanitary Inspector to Hampstead
Heath at Bank Holiday periods, when all food stalls engaged in the
preparation and sale of foods, and the many itinerant ice cream vendors'
vehicles were inspected. On the whole, a reasonable standard of
" safety" of the foodstuffs was maintained but serious criticism is
recorded concerning the almost entire absence of hot water and/or
detergent facilities.
The attention of the Chief Officer of the Parks Department, London
County Council, was drawn to the need for the provision of waste bins
at central sites for refuse from the stalls and this he agreed to do.
Samples of foodstuffs were taken for both chemical and bacteriological
analyses, and appropriate action taken in respect of those which were
unsatisfactory, including two Grade 3 and three Grade 4 ice creams.
One ice cream vendor gave a false name and address and could not
subsequently be traced. There was a general lack of knowledge by
the ice cream vendors of the Regulations governing the Heat Treatment
of this commodity. Legal proceedings were subsequently instituted in
respect of one unsatisfactory ice cream stall.
Bakehouses.
There are 27 bakehouses in use in the Borough, of which 9 are
underground.
Adulterated and Unsatisfactory Samples.
Five hundred samples of foodstuffs were submitted to the Public
Analyst, Dr. H. E.Cox. The number classed as " adulterated " (detailed
in the following list) was 23 or 4.6 per cent., compared with 3.6 per cent,
for the previous year.
Offence How dealt with
1. Tin of Whiting containing a pellet of Cautionary letter sent to Manufacturers.
solder and seam of tin defective.
2. Mutton and Beef sausages slightly Food Executive officer notified.
deficient in meat content.
3. Epsom Salts, admixed with 56.5 per Summons dismissed under Probation of
cent, boric acid crystals. Offenders Acton paymentof33s.0d.
costs.
4. Grape-puree. Contained 2 p.p.m. Cautionary letter sent to Manufacturer.
arsenic.
5. Little Giant Powder Orange flavoured, Vendor cautioned. Ministry of Food
falsely labelled. notified.