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Food Stalls.—Of these there are considerable numbers in the market streets,
particularly Great Titchfield Street, Bell Street, Church Street, Blandford Street,
etc.
Definite arrangements are made for the keeping of such as are used for the
sale of food under close observation. Throughout 1926 visits were paid to all the
market streets every day, a special feature being made of Saturday night and
Sunday morning inspections.
FOOD.
A. Milk Supply.
Analysis of Milk.—The total number of samples taken either formally and in
accordance with the provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, or informally
as "test" samples, was 233. On examination by the Public Analyst 2 (0.8 per
cent.) were found to be adulterated. In 1925 the percentage was 1.5. Further
reference to the question of milk examinations is made in the report of the Public
Analyst, which will be found elsewhere.
Proceedings.—During the year also proceedings were instituted in 2 cases,
the defendant in each instance being the occupier of a general shop and selling
sterilised milk in bottle. The number of premises in the Borough on which such
milk is sold is fortunately not large, the demand being small, and the Council
after consideration of all the circumstances decided that registration should be
withheld on the ground that if granted the sale of unbottled milk could not be
prevented. Having regard to the possibility that though in general the sterilised
milk was sold in the bottle as received, the vendor might open the receptacle and
retail a portion of the contents, warnings were issued and samples were taken
from time to time. In the two cases here referred to the vendors were detected
in the act of selling the article other than in the unopened bottle, and in accordance
with the instructions of the Public Health Committee were prosecuted for selling
milk without being registered. Having regard to the fact that the defendants
were in a small way of business, the magistrate decided to deal with the cases
under the Probation of Offenders Act and, the defendants having undertaken to
discontinue the sale of milk, imposed no fine but called upon them to pay each
£2 2s. costs.
A considerable number of samples were taken on Saturday nights and Sunday
mornings, and in all 67 were obtained on delivery at Marylebone Station of the
London & North-Eastern Railway. Of the 67, two proved to be adulterated, and
proceedings were instituted and fines and costs amounting to ,£40 and £5 5s.
respectively imposed.