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When the Regulations were first issued it was obviously desirable that before they came into
operation they should be given the widest possible publicity among food traders and others engaged
in the handling or preparation of food. It was also felt that the traders would welcome some simple
explanation of how the Regulations would affect them, and the Central Council for Health Education
were therefore asked if they could produce suitable publicity material. As a result, they designed
and published an excellent pamphlet on the lines suggested and a copy of this was sent with a covering
letter by the Department to the management of every food handling establishment in the Borough.
The scheme proved very successful and the vast majority of the occupiers of food premises are
co-operating in carrying out the new requirements.
Legal Proceedings—Food.
Details of legal proceedings taken under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, are given in Table 16,
page 36.
Unsound Food.
The total quantity of food surrendered as being unsound and unfit for human consumption was
nearly 34 tons. The greater part related to canned foods. When destruction on the premises was
impracticable condemned food was sent via the Cleansing Department to a central refuse disposal
depot at Westminster.
Details of condemned food are given in Table 17, page 37.
Flaked Hen Egg Albumen.
In the Annual Report for 1955 reference was made to the presence of organisms of the salmonella
group in samples of flaked hen egg albumen imported from China. Comparatively large consignments
of this infected material had reached this country and the Ministry of Health decided to set up an
Albumen Advisory Committee to investigate the practicability of rendering the stocks sterile and
useable. After a series of experiments a method of treatment was evolved which gave satisfactory
results. In the meantime, arrangements had been made with a St. Marylebone firm who had been
dealing in this albumen to recall supplies held by their customers for retention in bulk at their
warehouse. Eventually batches of infected albumen were sent by wholesalers and others in various
parts of the country to certain specified centres for processing under the supervision of the local
Medical Officer of Health. A total of 4,120 lbs. of albumen was sent from this Borough for treatment.
Milk.
There are 78 registered premises from which milk is sold and 19 milk roundsmen operate in the
Borough from shops or depots elsewhere. A total of 153 inspections were made.
During the year, 236 applications under the Milk (Special Designation) (Raw Milk) Regulations,
1949-1954, and the Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk) Regulations, 1949-1953,
were received from seventy-five milk sellers.
Details are given in Table 18, page 37.
The average composition of the 103 genuine samples of milk analysed was : total solids 12.27 per
cent.; fat 3.53 per cent.; solids not fat 8.73 per cent.; as compared with the legal minima, namely,
11.50 per cent.; 3.00 per cent.; and 8.50 per cent. respectively.
Twenty-two samples of milk taken at the premises of two authorised wholesale firms operating heat
treatment plants were submitted to the tests prescribed for the various designations ; all were reported
to be satisfactory. Of 83 other samples of milk examined by the Council's Bacteriologist, all were
found to comply with the requisite standards.
Ice-Cream.
The number of registered premises was 229, which includes three where ice-cream is manufactured ;
150 inspections were made. Details of premises licensed to sell ice-cream are given in Table 19, page 37.
Preserved Food.
There were 119 premises registered for the preparation or manufacture of sausages or potted, pickled,
pressed or preserved food intended for sale. Inspections totalling 231 were made and informal action
was taken to remedy any unsatisfactory conditions found from time to time.
Details are given in Table 19, page 37.