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17
3. Clean Food Campaign
The following additional information asked for in circular
1/54 dated 12.1.54 from the Ministry of Health is unavoidably
less detailed than it might have been had it been known at the
beginning of 1953 that more was required.
(i) The number of food premises by type of business
Greengrocers and fruiterers 165
Pish shops, wet, dry and fried 89
Bakers 114
Butchers 154
Restaurants 253
(ii) The number of premises registered under section 14 Pood
and Drugs Act, 1938.
Ice Cream 650
Sausages and potted processed etc.
meat 154
Registered milk distributors 86
(iii) Number of inspections of food premises 2426
(iv) Educational Activities, etc.
The Lambeth Clean Food Association has again increased
its membership and whereas this was originally limited
to the retail traders, the doors have now been opened
to the wholesale trade and manufacturers.
Since its inception there have been 365 applications
for membership of which 40 were not proceeded with or
withdrawn for one reason or another. 271 have been approved
and accepted and 352 certificates (one for each shop)
have been issued. Of these 69 have been surrendered as
the premises have changed hands but 33 of the newcomers
have been accepted for membership and are included in
the 352 mentioned above.
The number of badges issued is 805, these being worn
by those serving the public whether members or employees
of members.
The practice of taking finger swabs serves as a
reminder to wash hands before handling unwrapped food for
sale. Of the 1334 taken only 36 have been found to be
contaminated with faecal coli. There are no figures for
comparison with conditions of twenty years ago but it is
safe to say that standards are far higher today.
Qualification for membership consists of two principal
requirements, first that the premises shall comply with
the statutory requirements and bylaws and second that the
applicant and employees agree to maintain scrupulous
cleanliness of person, of clothing and of utensils. The
first insures that the facilities for cleanliness are
available for use and the second the promise that they
shall be properly and efficiently used.