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Bakehouses.—There are 18 basement bakehouses on the register; 115 inspections were made. At the
adjourned hearing of a summons, issued in 1948, in respect of a basement brought into use as a
bakehouse, contrary to the provisions of section 54 of the Factory Act, 1937, the defendant was fined
10s. Acceptable alternative accommodation had in the meantime been provided above ground.
Restaurants, etc.—Premises in which meals are provided or food is sold already cooked or is prepared
for sale numbered 845, including 306 restaurants, snack bars and railway refreshment rooms, 50 hotels,
312 staff and club canteens, 140 public houses, 14 fish caterers and cooked meat retailers, and 23 school
and nursery canteens : 1,099 inspections were made and 57 notices served. During the year the
kitchens of 14 restaurants, 10 canteens, 3 fish restaurants and 2 hotels were reconstructed.
Legal proceedings were taken under section 13 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, against five
caterers in respect of the dirty condition of premises used for the preparation and cooking of food for
sale to the public. Fines respectively of £20, £30, £4, £30 and £15 were imposed and costs awarded to
the Council. In a further case the proprietor of a grocery and general stores was prosecuted, under
section 9 of the Act for having in her possession, for the purpose of sale, food intended but unfit for
human consumption, and under section 13 for not observing cleanliness in regard to the shop and all
articles, apparatus and utensils therein, and for failing to take steps reasonably necessary to prevent
risk of contamination of food in the shop. The defendant was fined a total of £10, with £5 5s. Od. costs.
Whalemeat.—The Food and Drugs (Whalemeat) Regulations, 1949, made jointly by the Ministers of
Food and Health, came into operation on the 20th March, 1949. Part II of these Regulations prohibits
the importation into England and Wales of whalemeat and whalemeat products intended for sale for
human consumption unless accompanied by a "veterinary certificate," certifying that the whalemeat,
including that used in the manufacture of whalemeat products, has been inspected and was produced
in accordance with criteria and conditions satisfactory to the Minister of Food. The Regulations also
contain provisions for preventing the contamination of whalemeat on stalls (Part III); in shops,
stores, etc. (Part IV); and during transport and handling in wholesale markets, cold stores and
elsewhere (Part V). The enforcement of Parts II and V of the Regulations is the responsibility of
the Port Health Authorities, and Parts III and IV are enforceable, in London, by the metropolitan
borough councils.
Horseflesh.—Thirty-six visits were paid to two shops selling horseflesh for human food. One of these
shops was subsequently closed as being unsuitable for the purpose. There are no shops selling
horseflesh other than for human consumption.
Legal proceedings were taken against a restaurateur for possessing horseflesh for the purpose of
sale for human consumption without displaying the requisite notice, but the case was dismissed.
Slaughter of Animals.—The only licensed slaughterhouse in the Borough is that at the Zoological
Society's premises in Regent's Park, where slaughtering is done occasionally to augment the food
supply for the animals in the menagerie. Humane killers are used, and the licence granted to the
Society's skilled slaughterman was renewed. Sixteen inspections were made during the year.
Unsound Food.—Some 40 tons of food condemned as unfit for human consumption included the
following : meat 6 tons, 15 cwts. 2 qtrs. 3 lbs.; fish, 2 tons, 3 qtrs. 3 lbs.; poultry and rabbits, 1 ton,
3 cwts. 3 qtrs. 6 lbs.; cereals, 6 tons, 8 cwts. 2 qtrs. 5 lbs.; fruit, 1 ton, 13 cwts. 3 qtrs. 25 lbs.;
vegetables, 6 cwts. 3 qtrs. 8 lbs.; canned goods, 48,097 tins. Practically all this unsound food was
salvaged and diverted to other uses.
SECTION F.—PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES.
Infectious and other diseases notifiable in St. Marylebone are listed in Table 5, which gives also
information regarding notifications (civilians) received during 1949. As from the 1st June, 1949,
enquiries relating to cases of infectious disease, formerly made by the district sanitary inspectors,
were carried out by one of the women sanitary inspectors who paid 586 visits in this connection during
the last seven months of the year.