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45
COMPLAINTS REGARDING FOREIGN BODIES IN FOOD
During the year three complaints regarding foreign bodies in food
were received in the Department. Details of the three cases are as
follows:—
String in loaf of bread
This complaint was received from a resident of the Woodberry Down
Estate. The complainant submitted slices of bread and requested that
an examination be made to establish the identity of the foreign matter
contained therein. The appearance of the sample indicated that a piece
of thick string or cord, possibly used to tie the mouth of the flour sack,
had become embedded in the mix. A communication was sent to the
suppliers concerned, pointing out that the incident would not have
happened if the flour had been screened before being mixed. The suppliers
replied in due course that they were at a loss to understand how such a
piece of string could have found its way into a finished loaf. They were
subsequently warned by further letter that more care would have to be
taken in screening the flour before it was used.
Glass in bottle of milk
This complaint concerned a small quantity of glass in a milk bottle.
The wholesalers were informed and requested to come to the Public
Health Department to see the bottle, and this inspection was made by a
representative, who admitted the presence of small pieces of glass and
glass splinters. Further evidence was obtained from the complainant and
the matter reported to the Public Health Committee, who directed that
legal proceedings should be instituted against the wholesalers. The case
was heard at the North London Police Court and the Counsel for the
defence submitted that it had not been proved that the offence was
committed by the defendants. The Magistrate thereupon dismissed the
summons with a comment that there was a possibility that something
might have happened to the milk while it was in the custody of the
retailer.
Clothes peg in milk bottle
This complaint was brought to the Public Health Department by a
resident, who complained that the bottle of milk contained a blacklooking
foreign object resembling a wooden clothes peg of the spring
type. The suppliers were invited to call and inspect the bottle and they
admitted the presence of a foreign body but could offer no explanation as
to its presence. The case was reported to the Public Health Committee,
who, after considering all the circumstances, decided not to institute legal
proceedings against the firm. A warning was issued, however, that
special care should be taken to avoid repetition of any similar incident.