View report page

FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES
Food Inspection
Numerous requests were made during the course of the year for Public Health Inspectors
to examine food considered to be unfit. In addition, food at many places of storage and sale
has been subject to routine inspection by Public Health Inspectors. On no occasion was it
necessary to use the powers contained in the Food and Drugs Act 1955 for the seizure of
unfit food; all food having been dealt with under the established 'surrender' procedures.
Approximately 110 tons of unfit food were dealt with during the year, some 60 tons of
this being accounted for by one consignment of goods damaged in a food warehouse fire. A
fair proportion of the remainder surrendered as unfit resulted from breakdowns of refrigerated
storage cabinets in shops and supermarkets and, whilst some failures are inevitable, the resultant
loss of food emphasises the need for careful and regular servicing of equipment.
There are no premises situated in the Borough which are used as a slaughter-house or for
poultry processing.
Food Sampling
Samples of food and drugs are regularly taken under Food and Drugs Act 1955 and
submitted to the Public Analyst for analysis. The following table shows the number of samples
taken and the number found to be unsatisfactory.
No. of Samples Taken Unsatisfactory
847 76
The number of unsatisfactory samples was more than double that of 1970.
The main causes of the unsatisfactory samples reported by the Public Analyst were excessive
preservatives, excessive tin content, prohibited colourings, unsatisfactory labelling, and deficiencies
in meat content. Where possible follow-up samples were taken and matters were found to be
rectified. The unsatisfactory samples were drawn to the attention of retailers and manufacturers.
All samples are submitted to Dr. Amphlett Williams who has been the Council's Public
Analyst for the purposes of the Food and Drugs Act 1955 since the 1st April 1965. During
the year the Council appointed Mr. S.J. Bush as an additional Public Analyst.
Imported Food Regulations
The Imported Food Regulations 1968 contain measures for the protection of public health
in relation to imported food, and require that the regulations are to be enforced by both port
health authorities and inland local authorities. As a result a vast increase in the work of food
105