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52
The response was reasonably encouraging and resulted in many
shopkeepers agreeing to display "No Smoking" and "Dogs" notices on
the premises.
Further approach was also made to the Metropolitan Boroughs'
Standing Joint Committee and the Association of Municipal Corporations
suggesting amendment of the Food Hygiene Regulations to include the
prohibition of dogs in food shops and to ensure that no food not completely
enclosed should be placed less than 18 inches from the ground.
The Association considered that both matters should be encouraged
by "voluntary action" and "persuasion" rather than by
legislation.
Thirty-five of the 103 traders having no rear or side entrances
to their premises agreed to adopt the paper sack system of refuse
collection and further efforts are being made to increase this number.
This method of refuse collection is obviously-to be preferred from a
hygiene point of view where refuse has to be carried through food
premises.
As usual, the Council's Food Inspector has been active during
the Easter, Whitsun and August Bank Holiday Fairs on Hampstead
Heath. All food stalls are regularly inspected and samples of the
produce taken,
No less than 119 samples of food were obtained, of which 65
were for bacteriological examination and 54 for chemical analysis.
Bacteriologically, three soft ice creams, one ice cream and one
sample of whelks were not up to standard and chemically one soft
ice cream and two dairy ice creams adversely reported upon. The
attention of the vendors was drawn to each of the unsatisfactory samples,
Generally speaking, it is obvious that the supervision of the
food stalls on the Heath and the highway has resulted in a greatly
improved standard of food hygiene and distribution.
In connection with the storage, preparation and sale of food
generally, I would mention that Hampstead residents now have the
benefit of a very energetic Consumer Council Group who are doing a
great deal to foster a keen and discriminating public opinion on food
matters.