View report page

26
informally, the service of 189 notices was found necessary. The majority related to dirty conditions
arising from the lack of simple domestic cleaning of floors and equipment and the attitude that walls
can be ignored until the need for redecoration arises.
Unfortunately the number of visits has been limited by the staff position, as undoubtedly the
most effective spur to the maintenance of a good standard of hygiene in food premises is the knowledge
that a public health inspector will be making regular visits. These visits should not be too brief
and should allow time for not only examining the structure of the premises and environmental
conditions but also inspecting items of equipment, however small, and observing personal habits
of the food handlers. Apart from any other consideration, the food handler's personal pride requires
that he should not be found to be at fault—particularly in the presence of fellow workers. Education
of the food handler remains the most positive and enduring aid to hygiene and every opportunity
is taken to further this by personal contact during routine visits. The greatest barrier to improved
standards of hygiene arises from limitations imposed by the attitude and short-comings of the staff,
a state of affairs which seems to be getting progressively worse. It has also been found that because
of the shortage of suitable staff some catering managers cannot effectively control their kitchen staff
and fear losing them to such an extent that they avoid visiting the kitchen to the point of neglect.
When faced with the findings of an inspector's visit they are amazed that such adverse conditions
exist in premises under their control.
Complaints are occasionally received from members of the public about the way in which " ready
to serve "foods are displayed on open counters. The requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations
are limited in this respect and securing the protection the public expects is largely a matter of" encouragement " rather than enforcement. The belief is still held in some sections of the food
industry that enclosing food in open-back glass cases is a sales deterrent, although the experience
of some of the more progressive firms suggests otherwise. Another recurring complaint is of nuisance
caused to nearby occupiers by cooking smells. All too often these smells are discharged without any
means of filtering at low level in congested areas, whereas the point of discharge should be above
main roof level. Although the Regulations provide for effective ventilation of the kitchen, they
have no concern for the means of discharging the cooking smells and action cannot be taken under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, nuisance clause. This aspect receives attention when plans
of proposed alterations or reconstruction of catering premises are submitted to the Council, but in
existing premises the solution can involve a good deal of expensive alteration and adaptation.
Much remains to be done in the field of food hygiene before a completely satisfactory standard is
reached beyond any possible risk to health.
Licensing Act, 1961.
Applications for registration certificates in respect of club premises are made to the Magistrate's
Court and the Council have the right to make objections on the grounds set out in Section 27 (2)
of the Act within 28 days from the date of application.
Thirty-nine applications were referred to the Department and a public health inspector visited
the premises to report on their suitability in regard to the requirements of public health and food
hygiene legislation.
Food Stalls.
During the year food was sold from 86 licensed stalls in street markets in the Borough and regular
inspections were made for compliance with the requirements relating to stalls in the Food Hygiene
Regulations and the London County Council Byelaws for the Protection of Food.
Horseflesh.
There are no shops in the Borough selling horseflesh for human consumption.
Slaughter of Animals.
There are no slaughterhouses in the Borough but in the grounds of the Zoological Society of London
for many years there has been a knacker's yard, licensed by the Council, where animals are slaughtered
for feeding purposes. Fourteen inspections were made and conditions found to be satisfactory.
SECTION F.—INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES—PREVALENCE
AND CONTROL
There was an increase in the number of cases of infectious diseases reported in the Borough, 428
notifications being received against 277 the previous year. Of the total, measles accounted for 311,
the figures for 1962 and 1961 being 107 and 422 respectively. There were increases also in whooping