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As already explained legal provision has now been made for registration of
premises in which ice cream is prepared or sold and certain articles of food are
manufactured or prepared. At present the requirement does not apply to cookshops
or cooked-food shops, but in time the difficulties with which the procedure
is supposed to be surrounded in the case of such establishments may be met.
As a matter of routine, a number of restaurants, food premises, etc., are
visited each week by the Food Inspector, and any matters discovered at these
inspections are dealt with at once. In 1934, the total number of inspections was
420, the number of notices served being 10.
Food Stalls.—Under the by-laws with regard to registration of street traders
under the L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1927, food stalls, in common with other
stalls, must be registered. The Committee actually responsible is the Highways
Committee, who co-operate in the closest possible manner with the Public Health
Committee and endeavour to limit the number of traders to whom registration is
granted. Wherever possible, the Committee refuse to allot space for stalls from
which food is to be sold, and in each case full enquiries are made and investigations
of storage accommodation carried out. Where improvements are required and
are possible, these are called for. If the conditions are unsatisfactory and
irremediable, this is made a ground for refusal of registration. All food stalls are
inspected daily by officers of the Public Health Department, a special feature being
made of inspections over each week-end. Stalls from which meat is retailed
though they must comply with certain requirements laid down in the Public Health
(Meat) Regulations, 1925, are not registered.
FOOD.
A.—Milk Supply.
Analysis of milk.—The quarterly returns as to the number of milk samples
taken are as follows:—1st Quarter, 50; 2nd Quarter, 68; 3rd Quarter, 22; 4th
Quarter, 47, making a total for the year of 187. No sample was found to be
adulterated.
Bacteriological Examination of Milk.—With a view to testing the purity of
milk from the bacteriological point of view, 17 samples were taken and submitted
to the Council's Bacteriologist for examination.
In each case in which a result not entirely satisfactory was obtained communications
were sent to the Local Authority of the district in which the milk was
produced in order that an investigation might be carried out locally. On all
occasions the greatest willingness to co-operate was shown by the officers of these
authorities, and it is safe to claim that definite improvements have followed the
taking of action on these lines.
In addition to these samples, 20 of certified milk were taken and submitted
to bacteriological examination. The reports were almost invariably satisfactory
and, in accordance with the usual arrangement, were forwarded to the Ministry of
Health.
Dairies, Milkshops, etc.—Frequent inspections of milk premises were made
with the object of discovering whether or not the requirements of the regulations
as to cleanliness, etc., under the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, were being complied
with. In no case was it necessary to take action.
The Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923.—Under this Order 58 applications
were received from 22 dealers in the Borough for licences to sell milk as
Certified Milk; Grade "A" (Tuberculin Tested) Milk; Grade "A"
(Pasteurised) Milk; or "Pasteurised" Milk. As the milk in each case was
obtained from a producer licensed under the Order and the premises of the applicants
were found to be satisfactory, licences were granted as appropriate, the
numbers being 12 in respect of "Certified" Milk, 17 for Grade "A" (Tuberculin
Tested) Milk, 27 "Pasteurised" Milk, and 2 Grade "A" (Pasteurised). In
addition there were granted 1 pasteurising licence, 1 bottling licence for Grade
"A" (Tuberculin Tested) milk and 1 bottling licence for Grade " A " milk.