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39
suggestions and for her continued assistance in this campaign to
make exposed foods less liable to contamination.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning notifications have tended to rise but
investigations have not shown in any single family case that
infection was caused by food which, at the time of its purchase,
was bacteriologically or chemically unfit for consumption, which
reflects considerable credit on the retailers. Careless handling
or improper storage or cooking in the house appear to be the root
causes of these foods becoming inoculated with pathogenic
organisms and their development to such a degree as to produce
food poisoning symptoms.
Two outbreaks of food poisoning occurred in other
Boroughs and some of the persons affected were found, after some
days had elapsed, to reside in Hampstead and still to be infected,
although no notifications in respect of these had been received.
It is to be regretted that there is often delay in the notification
of food poisoning and this makes it difficult, and at times
impossible, to trace the source of infection and thereby control
its spread.
Unsound Food
Seizure of foods unfit for consumption is almost a
thing of the past. The food retailers in the Borough generally
provide a very good service for their customers and no doubt
appreciate that their prosperity depends on the quality of the
food they sell and the service they give. Quite apart from
this, they have now realised that by deliberately selling foods
which might be unfit, not only do they make themselves liable
to heavy fines, but sacrifice the good relationship which has
grown up between themselves and the inspectors, whose advice
and help they are continually seeking. They, therefore, now
usually submit for examination any foods of which they are in
doubt and willingly surrender anything which is considered
unfit. By this method they are generally able to obtain credit
for the condemned foods and the interests of the public are
protected.
Where possible, unsound food is salvaged for use either
for animal feeding stuff, soap manufacturing or other industrial
purposes. Other condemned food is either destroyed at the Public
Health Station or removed to the Council's Dust Wharf for disposal
with other trade refuse.