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Legal proceedings—Food and Food Premises
The following matters arising from complaints received in 1968 resulted in legal proceedings
being taken by the City Council against those responsible and were heard during 1969:—
A loaf purchased from the retail section of a large catering concern was found to have been
contaminated by mice. A heavy infestation of mice was found at the premises, although contractors
were employed to carry out disinfestation work. A fine of £5 and £5 5s. Od. costs were imposed.
Half a cooked chicken was found by the purchaser to be mouldy shortly after purchase. A fine of
£20 with £5 5s. Od. costs were imposed.
(See Table 27, page 79 —Analysis of Legal Proceedings).
Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations, 1959
Under these Regulations a local authority is required to keep a register of persons carrying on the
trade of distributor of milk at or from premises within their district whether or not such premises are
occupied by the distributor.
At the 31 st December, 1969, 368 (363) distributors of milk were so registered.
Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, 1963 (As Amended)
The City Council is responsible for the granting on application of Dealers' Licences in relation to
pre-packed milks sold under the special designations "Untreated", "Ultra Heat Treated", "Pasteurised"
and/or "Sterilised".
A Dealer's Licence permits the sale of milk both outside as well as inside the area of the licensing
authority. The numbers of such licences current in the City at the end of 1969 were:
Untreated 74 (74)
Ultra Heat Treated 108 (108)
Pasteurised 350 (348)
Sterilised 248 (246)
Milk Supplies—Brucella Abortus
Brucella abortus is the organism associated with contagious abortion in cattle and its transmission
to man occurs through drinking raw milk. As almost the entire supply of milk sold and consumed in
Westminster is heat-treated, no tests to determine the presence of this organism were carried out
during the year.
Food and Drugs Act, 1955—Section 16
Under this Act no premises shall be used for:-
(a) the sale, or the manufacture for the purpose of sale, of ice cream, or storage of ice cream,
intended for sale, or
(b) the preparation or manufacture of sausages, or potted, pressed, pickled or preserved food
intended for sale,
unless they are registered for that purpose by the local authority. Premises used wholly or mainly
as catering premises, or as a school or club are exempt from these requirements and those used as a
theatre, cinematographic theatre, music hall or concert hall, are exempt for registration in respect of
the sale and storage of ice cream.
The number of premises registered with the City Council at 31st December, 1969 is shewn in
Table 25, page 78.
Food Poisoning
The declared object of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, was to prevent food
poisoning. Almost all food poisoning can be traced to a breakdown in food hygiene, which need
never have occurred.
During the year information was received of 36 persons stated to be suffering from food poisoning,
and a summary of individual outbreaks affecting more than one person is as follows