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50
SECTION E
SUPERVISION OF FOOD
(in conjunction with Mr. W. C. Bartlett, Chief Public Health Inspector)
Included in the legislation which came into operation this year are the
following :—
Public Analyst Regulations, 1957—these revoke and supersede the Regulations
made in 1939 and control the appointment of a Public Analyst and the
form of certificate to be given by him pursuant to Section 92 of the Food and
Drugs Act, 1955.
The Colouring Matter in Food Regulations, 1957, which revoke and
re-enact, with modifications, the provisions of the Public Health (Preservatives,
etc., in Food) Regulations, 1925-53, relating to colouring matter in food, comes
into full effect by stages. The Regulations prescribe a list of permitted food
colours. They prohibit the importation and sale of food containing colouring
matter not on the permitted list and, subject to an exception in the case of
citrus fruit, if the fruit is clearly marked on the skin with the words " colour
added," the addition of colouring matter to certain natural foods sold in a raw
and unprocessed state. Colouring matter and colouring and flavouring compounds
sold for use in food are subject to special labelling requirements.
The Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations, 1957—these provide that
after 1st June, 1958, the giving out of shrimps and prawns and onions for
peeling on domestic premises shall be permitted if the premises are registered
with the local authority for the preparation of the food in question and certain
other requirements are complied with. These include :—
1. A periodic check by the person giving out the food that proper
standards can be maintained.
2. The cleanliness of equipment and premises.
3. The provision of water supply and wash hand basin.
4. The protection of food from risk of contamination.
5. The observance of cleanly practices by the persons engaged.
In addition to the above the following were issued during the year :—
Circular FSH 3/57 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
making certain amendments to Memo 3/Meat in relation to post mortem
examination for the detection of cysticercus bovis.
Circular FSH 6/57 issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food setting out the recommended minimum standards of construction, layout
and equipment for slaughterhouses.
Advisory Note No. 11 issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research on the Control of Flies in Fishmongers' Shops is a most useful and practical
publication, giving information on the various flies which are attracted to fishmongers''
shops and the control measures which should be taken both inside and
outside the premises. Particular mention may be made of the recommendation to
scrub out fish boxes with a detergent solution as soon as they are empty, rinse with a
hypochloride solution, stack on end and allow to dry. Empty boxes should be
disposed of as soon as possible. It is strongly recommended that at each shop one
person should be made responsible for all control measures. In this connection the
Inspectors of this department are always ready to give shopkeepers every assistance
and advice in getting rid of this most undesirable pest.