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and 1,212 restaurants have already been indexed. During the year
1,318 visits were paid. Kitchens, pantries, messroom arrangements for
staff, systems for washing up, and general sanitary arrangements were
specially observed. Defects requiring notices were found in 61 instances,
and in each case the work was satisfactorily carried out.
Suspected Food Poisoning.—Information was received from the
proprietor of a high-class restaurant in the City concerning a mysterious
malady which affected about 10 of the staff, over a period of 14 days.
The symptoms were similar in every case, sickness followed in some
instances by cramp in the stomach.
Suspicion pointed to a male member of the kitchen staff who frequently
visited the lavatory and was not very clean in his personal habits, and
tests were made of his blood and faeces as well as of 3 samples of milk
taken in the cafe. Bacteriological examinations were carried out with
regard to these samples with negative results.
The man did not return to work at this restaurant and no further
cases were reported.
Fish Shops and Fried Fish Shops were periodically inspected. There
are 31 of these shops in the City to which the Food Inspectors paid 26
visits. Six of these are classified as restaurants, and inspections to
them are returned as restaurant inspections.
Ice-Cream, Premises.—It is particularly necessary that there should be
a high standard of cleanliness in the preparation of ice cream and in the
premises where it is made. A register has now been prepared in accordance
with the provisions of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1928, and 76 premises used for the sale, manufacture, etc., of icecream
have been recorded. The inspectors paid 42 visits to premises
where ice cream is manufactured, etc. The conditions in all cases were
satisfactory.
Bakehouses—At the end of 1931 there were 60 bakehouses in the City,
of which 45 were underground.
During the year, two above-ground bakehouses were discontinued as
such. 189 visits of inspection were made, and in all instances the
cleansing which is required to be done twice a year was carried out.
Inspection of Food.—Food exposed for sale has received regular
inspection by the food inspectors, who have carried out this work daily