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36
after purchase. The character of Hampstead is such that a large
proportion of its residents favour taking their meals at local
restaurants, of which there is a steadily increasing number who
are specialising in Continental and Asian foods. The majority of.
these are applying for licences as Refreshment Houses or to sell
alcohol and for these reasons are being required to provide
sanitary accommodation for male and female staff and the public
a highly desirable feature in all such premises whether licensed
or otherwise.
Notifications of food poisoning have been encouragingly low
during the year which justifies the conclusion that the work of all
those concerned with the fitness of food for consumption is having
positive results.
Complaints regarding the sale of milk in "dirty" bottles
continue to arise and in spite of continued investigation and research
into this problem by the producers, the problem remains
unsolved. The public should bear its share of responsibility in
this matter since it is apparent that, but for the abuse to which
emptied bottles are subjected which renders their cleansing by
approved mechanical methods impracticable, no such problem
would exist.
Under the established system of retail milk distribution in
this country, there seems to be no satisfactory method of making
a charge for the non-return or misuse of milk bottles and the use
of expendable containers would, however, not only increase the
cost of milk to the consumer but may well produce other problems
in the disposal of large quantities of these containers particularly
in hot weather, from the small amounts of stale milk left in them.
Recent improvements in the equipment of the Ice Cream van
are worthy of notice. New types incorporating electric generators
capable of providing power for refrigeration and heating water for
cleansing purposes are now appearing which meet the requirements
of the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1960 more fully.
The development of this equipment has enabled the itinerant
vendor to retail Soft Ice Cream and it can be foreseen that this
commodity will gain in popularity. It will shortly be available at