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63
1937
Prosecutions for exposing for sale Unsound Food.—During the year two
cases occurred relating to unsound food, one concerning unsound chestnuts, and one
regarding a meat stall at which the Inspector was able "to relieve" the proprietor
of all the meat he had for that day's trade. The meat was "boned out" cow beef
with most lymphatic glands removed. Owing to the difficulty of making a proper
examination in the confined space of the stall, the Inspector seized the meat on
account of the emaciation and later, at the Council's disinfecting station, where a
thorough inspection was made, traces of tuberculosis were found. On the stall
were a number of parcels containing portions of this meat which had been sold but
awaiting collection by the purchaser and while the Inspector was waiting for the
arrival of a conveyance to remove the meat, one of these purchasers asked to be
allowed to take her parcel "at her own risk." This was refused. Everyone—
lodgers included—is entitled to sound and wholesome meat. On enquiries being
made it was learned that one of the assistants on the stall had left a knackery outside
London on the previous day with a car-load of meat answering this description,
ostensibly to be used for cat meat. Efforts were made to have the vendor's
assistant's responsibility considered but the magistrate ruled that the assistant
acted only as the proprietor's agent. The weight of this meat was 362 lbs., excluding
bones, and the proprietor was fined £5 5s. with £5 5s. costs on each of three counts.
The aggregate of penalties in these cases was fines, £16 15s. and costs, £16 5s.
Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924.—A proprietor of a stall was prosecuted
under these regulations for failing to effectually screen the meat from dust,
etc., blown off the roadway. He was fined 21s. with 21s. costs. One other case
was authorised by the Public Health Committee against a shopkeeper for omitting
to observe due cleanliness with his utensils. He closed his shop and left the district,
however, before a summons could be served. Four traders were also warned for
infringing the above regulations.
Diseases of Animals Acts -Anthrax Order, 1928.—On two occasions
during the period under review the above order relating to animals was applied
in this borough. In one case, however, the Ministry did not confirm the diagnosis
of Anthrax.
Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.—Of the 43 slaughtermen who were licensed
under this Act during 1936, 33 applied for them to be renewed, and five new applications
for licences were received, all of which were granted after investigation, making
a total of 38 licensed slaughtermen on our register at the end of the year.
Offensive Trades.—The offensive trades placed under the Meat Inspector's
supervision consist of three tripe dressers, five gut scrapers and one knacker's yard.
One hundred and twenty-three visits were made during the year, and no breach
of the regulations was observed. To these fall to be added three skin dressers
under the supervision of the Inspector of Workshops.
By-laws for the Protection of Food.—These by-laws, which are designed,
as the name suggests, for the prevention of contamination of food are made under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and came into operation on 1st January,
1937. In practice this has resulted in proprietors of stalls who sell certain foods
not packed in containers or packets adopting methods of screening their goods, either
by the use of glass show-cases, or in a manner similar to that required of meat purveyors
under the Public Health (Meat) Regulations. Traders have readily complied
with these requirements and no prosecution has been necessary.