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Accordingly, a circular letter was directed to the Local Authorities
requesting information on the subject.
Bakehouses themselves are scheduled under the Factory and Workshops
Act as "Workshops," and as such, are required to be registered by the Local
Authority, and in consequence of the control thus given, such premises are
kept in sanitary condition. It is not in the Bakehouses themselves, however,
that the danger is alleged to exist, but in the smaller shops, such as chandlers,
grocers, &c.
This type of shop, of which there are only a small number in the City
selling bread, are kept under constant supervision, and in the event of circumstances
arising thereat, that in my opinion would be likely to prejudicially
affect the food sold, steps would be taken to remedy the trouble.
There are, besides these, numerous depots of the larger catering firms, and
these places are kept in good condition and quite up to the standard required
by the Act.
During the nine years that I have held the appointment as your Medical
Officer of Health, no case has occurred in the City where there has been any
evidence of possible contamination by infection from persons employed in
these shops.
With regard to the question of the danger arising from the practice, largely
in vogue in many parts of London, of the exchange of bread, the percentage
of bread sold in the City to customers of the residential class is exceedingly
small, and there is, therefore, practically no call upon bakers to adopt this
system.
It is very doubtful whether infection is ever transmitted in the ways suggested,
and at any rate, in the City, where there is practically no infectious
disease; should isolated cases occur they could be dealt with under the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, which provides for the removal to hospital of
the patient and the disinfection of the premises.
Although, as I have said, the exchange system is practised largely in other
parts of London, I am of opinion that control is absolutely unnecessary, and
would only add a further burden to the already heavily inspected trader.
In my opinion, the allegations referred to in Lord Winterton's question, as
to the danger to the public health arising from the sale of bread in chandlers'
shops and from insanitary and infected premises, or from the practice of the
exchange of bread, at any rate in the City, are groundless, and the Local
Government Board were so informed.