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67
The experience gained under the Order confirms what I have advocated
for many years, that places where food is dealt in should not be allowed
to be opened without permission from the local authority, and I would
again urge that steps be taken to give local authorities this power.
The attention of the County Council was called to the need for further
powers by the Westminster Council before the war, and the question is
again receiving attention with a view to necessary legislation.
Exposure of Food for Sale in Public Streets.—The County Council
has also under consideration the question whether further powers are
needed for regulating, in the interests of public health, the conditions under
which articles of food are exposed for sale in public streets, a matter
which has been mentioned in previous Annual Reports. It has been
urged upon the County Council that food is frequently offered for sale under
conditions which render it liable to contamination by the urine of dogs,
human expectoration, and the splashing of petroleum, lubricating grease,
road disinfectants and chemicals, by vehicles, &c.
In view of the importance of the question the County Council's
inspectors were instructed to keep observation and to make inquiries,
particularly in those localities where street trading is carried on. It has
been found that meat, fish and vegetables are frequently deposited on
the footway and roadway of the street, or on boards, or in baskets and
boxes within a few inches of the street level, and are consequently liable
to contamination by dust and the urine of dogs. Among the articles so
exposed were vegetables which are usually eaten uncooked (watercress,
onions, lettuce, radishes £nd tomatoes). In a number of cases dogs
have been seen voiding urine on vegetables, and in one case on some
sheep's heads.
As to butchers' and fishmongers' shops, the fronts of which are usually
open, it was found that the benches and boards of the former are not less
than 2 feet above the pavement and of the latter, not less than 18 inches.
In the case of provision dealers, the shops are not so frequently open in
front and it does not appear that provisions are usually deposited within
2 feet of the pavement.
Inspection of Food.—The food exposed for sale in shops and on stalls
in the street markets has been regularly inspected every day (including
Sundays). The following list shows the quantity of food condemned
and destroyed during the year. The bulk of it was submitted by the
owners or purchasers for the opinion of your officers:—