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is transported. Meat which is not otherwise fully protected should be
wrapped, at least, in muslin cloths, and should be carried in vehicles
equipped with proper hanging rails or metal shelves. The provision of
cleansable sides and floor to a meat carrying vehicle is of little significance
if the meat is deposited on the floor which has been walked on by
the meat porters. It is to be expected that the owners and workers in
retail food premises in being made aware of their responsibilities to
ensure the protection of food from contamination must sometimes have
grave misgivings about the methods still prevalent in wholesale distribution,
and must consider that their efforts as retailers are largely defeated
by inadequate precautions at other stages.
At the retail shop level there has been a growth of a practice which is
hygienically undesirable and which may in some cases be an infringement
of the Regulations. For want of a better description this may be referred
to as the "mixed shop". There are shops within this Borough whose
principle business is the sale of hardware, household goods, soaps,
paraffin oil and paints. Some of these shops are now including in their
stocks such foods as packeted tea, cereals and flour, all commodities
which readily absorb odour, a form of contamination specifically mentioned
in the Regulations.
No less a risk of contamination by odour arises at those shops selling
principally groceries and provisions and cooked meats which have extended
their range of goods to include soaps, disinfectants, and scented
sanitary cleansing powders.
Meeting of Food Traders
A meeting of Hornsey food traders was held in May 1956 to discuss
the implications of the new Regulations with the officers of the Department.
This meeting was attended by 168 traders, and the Chairman of
the Health Committee in welcoming them invited them to ventilate
problems arising from the Regulations with the staff of the Department
at any time, as the Council wished to assist in maintaining Hornsey's
high standard. Questions were asked on many aspects of the subject
which were engaging the attention of the traders, and as full an answer
as possible was given to each question. The meeting was undoubtedly
of value to those traders who were able to attend.
Judging by questions asked, the subjects which were engaging the
attention of the traders were:
1. dogs in food premises;
2. supply of wash-hand basins and the need for fitted basins with
piped water;
3. washing facilities for stalls and mobile traders such as ice cream
vendors;
4. storage and display of foods for sale;
5. hygienic transport of food;
6. "open-food" and the meaning of the expression;
7. the need for the customers to adjust their standards.
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