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46
SECTION E
SUPERVISION OF FOOD
(in conjunction with Mr W. C. Bartlett, Chief Sanitary Inspector)
Although the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, was placed on the Statute Book during
the year, it does not come into operation until 1st January, 1956. This Act is a
consolidating measure. It repeals the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act, 1954, and
consolidates it with the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, the Food and Drugs (Milk,
Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950, and certain other enactments, including and
supplementing Part V of the 1938 Act relative to Slaughterhouses and Knackers'
Yards.
The Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, which will replace Section 13 of the 1938
Act, also come into force on 1st January next, with certain exceptions, the date of
operation of which is postponed to 1st July, 1956.
The Transfer of Functions (Food and Drugs) Order, 1955, provided for the
transfer of certain food hygiene functions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food to the Minister of Health. The Transfer of Functions (Ministry of Food)
Order, 1955, has terminated the Ministry of Food as a separate Department.
The work done during and since the war by the Ministry of Food in promoting
food hygiene and in encouraging local authorities and their officers to pay increasing
attention to the problems of securing clean and safe food has been outstanding.
The good work and close co-operation with local authorities will no doubt be
continued by the new Ministry.
The Labelling of Food (Amendment) Regulations, 1955, which impose requirements
as to the labelling, marking and advertising of margarine and margarine
cheese, and the Food Standards (Butter and Margarine) Regulations, 1955, which
prescribe limits of water content for butter, and water and milk food content for
margarine, do not come into force until next year.
Circular MF1/55 was issued by the Ministry of Food as it was considered that
myxomatosis in rabbits and hares must be considered as making the carcase unfit for
human food and the disease must be added to Section A of Part IV of memo 3/Meat.
Concern was occasioned by the importation of Chinese egg albumen during
the year, some batches of which were proved to be in an unsatisfactory bacteriological
condition. The substance either in powder or crystallised form has been found to
contain salmonellae of various types and occasional S. Paratyphosus has been isolated.
The principal outlet for the commodity in this Country is the bakery and confec
tionery trades. As soon as the Department is informed that consignments of Chinese
egg albumen have been delivered in the borough the distribution is closely supervised
and, if necessary, samples taken and distribution postponed until a satisfactory result
has been obtained.
During the year the following were issued :—
1. Food Standards (Table Jellies) Amendment Order, 1955.
2. Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) (Amendment) Regulations.
1955.
3. Food Standards Committee Supplementary Report on Colouring Matter.
4. The Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Slaughterhouses.