View report page

31
This activity imposes an additional burden on the already fully extended inspectorate, but the
importance of the hygienic aspects of handling food and personal hygiene cannot be sufficiently stressed,
and such lectures serve a useful purpose.
During the year members of the Hamburg Central District of the Social Democratic Party of West
Germany visited the City Hall to carry out a fact-finding examination of elements of the City Council's
responsibilities in the Soho district.
A lecture was given to the members of the party by a public health inspector on the general topic of the
enforcement of the Food Hygiene Regulations in the Soho area. This was followed by a motor tour of the
district. It was of considerable interest to the party members to learn that a countryman of theirs, a
Frederick Accum, born in Buckeburg, Germany, in 1769, later established a laboratory for the chemical
examination of food at 11, Old Compton Street in the heart of Soho in 1800.
Food Sampling and Analysis
The development of the modern food industry has vastly increased the variety and availability of
pre-packed foods. There has been a corresponding decrease in the amount of food sold in the traditional
manner. Estimates based on the National Food Survey show an increase in pre-packed food from some 50
per cent in 1960 to around 60 per cent in 1970. This has had the advantage at the retail level of removing
the opportunity for adulteration which formerly existed and reducing open food handling. There is the
disadvantage that the condition of the food cannot be determined without removing the wrapper; also the
physical conditions created by the wrapping can in some circumstances be favourable to certain types of
spoilage.
Failure in distribution and sales systems has given rise to the sale of stale food and the demand for open
date marking of pre-packed food continues to secure considerable support. Most of such food on sale in this
country is already marked with a code, but the codes so differ from one another and in some cases are so
complicated that they are unintelligible to staff who could use the information in order to undertake
satisfactory rotation of stock, and to the public who buy the food. Only a few companies use an open date
code, which both staff and customer can read at a glance.
During the year a total of 1,269(1,626) samples of foodstuff were submitted to the Council's Public
Analyst by routine or on complaint. Of this number 178(13.2%) (148: 9.1%) were reported upon adversely
and appropriate action taken. The following includes a selection of these reports together with other
matters concerning samples brought to the department on complaint:
Milk contained in a plastic bag for use in a dispenser machine at a canteen was alleged to have been
watered. A sample submitted to the Public Analyst confirmed the presence of not less than 60.6 per cent of
added water. The dairy company stated that the added water could have been the residue of a final rinse
remaining in the filling line following cleansing. The residue was normally pushed out by the milk, and it
was for this reason that the first two cartons filled were usually discarded. If, however, one of the cartons
was inadvertently distributed it could have been the source of the adulterated sample. It appeared that the
Company's established procedure laid down and prominently displayed at the dairy had not been carried
out by an employee.
Maggots were found in a packet of dates and later identified as an Indian Meal Moth. The retail company
imported some 1% tons of dates once a year which they stored at their premises and packs were made up
from stock as required. The period the dates remained in store would be conducive to the growth of larvae,
if present. The company concerned agreed in future to import stocks half yearly, and that careful scrutiny
would be undertaken, as far as was possible, to ensure they were not infested.
Apple slices were alleged by the purchaser to contain rodent faeces. The foreign material was found to
consist of sugar and burnt material which probably originated from the baking tin used in the bakery.
A piece of chewing gum was found in a packet of cornflakes. The packers carried out an intensive
examination of their corn flake lines but were unable to explain how the specimen entered their product.
The gum had not been through the corn flakes processes which involved rolling and toasting. The time
between final toasting and packaging was only about one minute's duration, and the operation was under
constant supervision. Eating by staff was strictly prohibited in the plant and warning notices to this effect
were prominently displayed. There appeared to be no valid explanation of this incident other than
malicious intent. The packers were cautioned.