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FOOD
FOOD HYGIENE
By the end of 1957 the Food Hygiene Regulations had been wholly
in force for 18 months, and during the 6 months prior to this time part
of the Regulations were in force and notice was given of the coming
into operation of the remaining provisions.
By the beginning of 1957 it appeared that all food traders in the
Borough had realised the significance of the Regulations, and the occupiers
of many premises who previously had not fully complied with the
Regulations, had now either provided the necessary equipment or were
in the process of so doing. During 1957 a majority of those against whom
requirements were outstanding brought their premises into line with the
structural and equipment requirements of the Regulations, and at the
end of the year there were probably only one or two hard cases where
further action was necessary.
There was evidence of a growing appreciation of the commercial
advantages of clean and attractive looking food premises, particularly
in so far as the parts of the premises which were on view to the general
public were concerned, and in an appreciable number of cases structural
alterations, new lighting, provision of cold storage display cabinets,
food screening, and other devices were introduced. The public appear
to approve of these improvements and seem to be exercising greater
discrimination in their food shopping in that the brighter, cleaner shop
has been gaining commercial advantage over the "also rans". The food
trade appears to subscribe to the opinion that food hygiene is good
business.
From general comments it would appear that the shopping public
are also making their opinions known to shop-keepers in many cases
where the display or handling of the food does not appear to be as
hygienic as possible. One lady recently told this department that she
objected to an assistant handling cut ham, and informed the assistant
that it was not her habit to wash it before eating it. In certain shops the
use of forks, knives and tongs is beginning, and one hopes to see this
practice extended.
One small difficulty which is arising with regard to some types of food
shop comes from the very wide choice of brands of food which are now
advertised and demanded by the public, particularly with such things as
breakfast cereals. The shop-keeper often finds that he has to keep a large
number of different types of this very bulky foodstuff and thereby the
limited storage accommodation available to the shop becomes over-.
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