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interested bodies. The difficulty of providing a suitable sterilising agent
which would not impart an objectionable taste, smell, or sediment to the
glasses has been solved by the production of quaternary ammonium
compounds. These detergents are giving promising results and are now
being widely used in public houses.
Communal Feeding
The increase in the number of food poisoning cases since 1939 has been
attributed in part to the extension of the communal feeding arrangements.
In Hornsey the school meals service provides about 6,000 lunches per
day to school children and teaching staffs; in addition, restaurants and
canteens in the Borough provide probably not less than 3,000.
LECTURES ON FOOD HYGIENE
Preliminary enquiries were made with food traders and their staffs to
estimate the response which the Council could expect for a proposed
series of lectures to food-handlers on the various aspects of Food Hygiene.
Difficulties appear to preclude support at present in that the food traders
say that the shortage of staff prevents them from releasing their assistants
to attend lectures during normal working hours and the assistants claim
that other responsibilities prevent them from giving their own time to
attending meetings on this subject.
Talks to local organisations have been given to explain the Council's
legal powers and responsibilities, the degree of success estimated to have
been achieved and the contribution which the housewife as a member of
the purchasing public can make in this work. Comments received after
these talks appear to indicate a wider appreciation by the public of the
difficulties involved, and it is known that many more members of the
public are assisting by their own efforts in encouraging the implementation
of the Council's programme.
PROSECUTIONS
The Food and Drugs Act 1938 and other legislation concerned with the
hygiene, preparation, storage, handling and sale of food intended for
human consumption permits any member of the public to lay information
before the Courts on the grounds that food has been sold which is not of
the nature, substance or quality demanded or is unfit for human consumption,
but persons receiving unsatisfactory food normally bring it to
the public health department.
Only two prosecutions were taken during the year. The first was in
connection with a piece of bandage and lint from a wound which was
found embedded in a loaf of bread, and the second case was a bottle of
fruit drink which contained paraffin. Proceedings were taken under
Sections 3 and 9 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938 against the shopkeepers.
The first firm was fined £7. 5s. Od. and £4. 4s. Od. costs and the second
was fined £10 and £10. 10s. Od. costs.
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