View report page

54
PERISHABLE FOODSTUFFS
A suggestion was made to the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint
Committee that it should be made compulsory to mark the containers of
perishable foodstuffs with the date of manufacture or the date by
which the contents should be consumed.
The matter was considered by the General Purposes Sub-Committee
of the Standing Joint Committee, and the Medical Advisory Body expressed
the view that the suggestion was not practicable. They pointed out
that there is ample legislation under the Food and Drugs Act and the
Food Hygiene Regulations dealing with the sale of food unfit for human
consumption, and that prosecutions have nearly always had a salutary
effect on traders. In view of these observations the Sub-Committee
were not prepared to take any action in the matter.
ARSENIC IN FOOD REGULATIONS, 1959
These regulations, which came into operation August 1959, make it
an offence to sell, consign, deliver or import into England and Wales
any food which contains more than 1.0 part per million of arsenic.
Variations of this limit are specified for certain substances which
include beverages, soft fruit concentrates, ice cream, essences etc.