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FOOD
FOOD INSPECTION
The efficient supervision and inspection of food supplies is an
important responsibility resting on local authorities yet it is a branch
of legislation that, from early times, had not met with the success
it merited. It was not until the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, came
into force that the sampling of food and drugs and the powers of
inspection and seizure of unfit food were consolidated in one Act.
The Food and Drugs Act, 1938, was based on a report of the Local
Government and Public Health Consolidation Committee and included
about 250 provisions from various Acts, including a number
of new sections from local Acts. The repeals extend from an Act of
1540, which enabled "four physicians yearly to inspect the houses
of apothecaries for impure drugs", and other Acts of the early
eighteenth and nineteenth century on the adulteration of tea and
coffee, the contents of bread and the control of knackers' yards.
Coming into operation just after the outbreak of war, the 1938 Act
had a bad start. Normal peacetime activities were interrupted or discontinued
and the newly appointed Ministry of Food took over many
of the food and drug functions of the Ministry of Health. Certain
emergency laws were also passed to provide better protection for the
public against exploitation of food owing to shortage of supplies.
Food and drugs legislation at the end of 1955 was covered by the
Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and the Food and Drugs (Milk, Dairies
and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950.
The Food and Drugs Act, 1955, which came into force on the
1st January, 1956, is a consolidating measure. It repeals the whole
of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, the Amendment Act of 1954 (which
came into force on 1st January, 1956, and was repealed the same day),
the Food and Drugs (Milk Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act of 1950
and parts of a number of other Acts. Under the new Act the Ministers
of Health and Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have power to make
Regulations which give local authorities considerably wider and
stronger powers than they have at present.
N.B.—The Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, came into operation
on the 1st January, 1956, except for certain provisions which may
involve alterations to premises or equipment or substantial changes
in existing practices; these are deferred until 1st July, 1956.
Foreign Matter in Food
Complaints of foreign matter in food continue to be brought to the
attention of the department and in some instances enquiries have
revealed that persons engaged in checking some process in food
preparation have not exercised proper care. Alternatively, by some
careless action or disregard of instruction, food becomes contaminated.
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