London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Barnet 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnet]
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Food Hygiene
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1960-1962 lay down requirements in respect of
cleanliness of food premises and of apparatus and equipment, the hygienic handling of food,
cleanliness of persons engaged in the handling of food and their clothing, and the action to be
taken where they suffer from or are carriers of certain infections; the construction of food premises,
their repair and maintenance and the facilities, including sinks and wash basins, to be provided,
and the temperature at which certain foods are to be kept. The Food Hygiene (Markets, Stalls
and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations 1966 which came into operation on 1st January 1967 enable
similar requirements to be applied to markets, stalls and delivery vehicles.
At the request of the Minister of Health, I set down below in tabular form particulars of food premises provided with wash hand basins and an adequate supply of hot and cold water, soap and towels (Regulation 16) and those provided with sinks, hot and cold water, soap, clean cloths or other cleaning and drying facilities (Regulation 19) as required by the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1960.
| Class of Business | Number at end of 1967 | Number Complying with Reg. 16 | Number to which Reg. 19 applies | Number Complying with Reg. 19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakehouses and Bakers Shops | 132 | 132 | 130 | 128 |
| Butchers | 163 | 163 | 163 | 163 |
| Canteens | 144 | 143 | 144 | 144 |
| Confectioners | 261 | 259 | 167 | 166 |
| Dairies | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Fishshops | 77 | 77 | 76 | 76 |
| Greengrocers | 175 | 175 | 134 | 132 |
| Grocers | 320 | 320 | 317 | 314 |
| Licensed Premises | 200 | 198 | 200 | 198 |
| Restaurants/Cafes | 230 | 230 | 230 | 229 |
4284 visits were made to secure the obversation of hygienic practices in clean and properly
equipped premises. Generally the equipment of retail and wholesale food premises is satisfactory,
but with few notable exceptions, retail food firms make little effort to teach food hygiene to their
staffs.
Markets
There are two markets in the Borough in which food is sold; one owned by the Council at Burnt
Oak and known as the Watling Market. This operates on one day a week only. The other, privately
owned, is at Barnet, and opens two days a week.
Hawkers
Hawkers of food and their storage premises are required to be registered under Section 11 of the
Middlesex County Council Act 1950. The vehicles and storage premises used by these traders
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