View report page

58
SECTION E.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOODS.
INSPECTIONS.
A total of 2,592 visits were paid to premises where food
is stored, or prepared, or from which it is sold. 430 defects were
found and in 282 instances the attention of the persons concerned
was called to deficiencies, either verbally or in writing. 108 written
intimations were sent in this connection.
Particular attention has been paid to the enforcement of the
Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, and the year's work has brought
much nearer the date on which all premises will comply with
structural requirements. It will of course, be necessary to see that
the standard is maintained.
In all cases where it is known to be necessary, hot and cold
water supplies have been provided, so that this facility is now
available to staffs at all times and especially after using the toilet.
Perhaps the most serious of the problems involving the
structure of food premises is that concerned with the shielding of
open food from contamination. A recent High Court decision has
raised considerable doubts as to the extent of the powers thought
to have been available in the Regulations.
Much work will always remain to be done in educating the
staff of food preparing premises in the clean handling of food, and
seeing that they comply with the personal hygiene requirements.
Of greatest importance in this connection is the cleanliness of staff
in kitchens attached to cafes and canteens.
FOOD COMPLAINTS.
Twenty-four complaints were received concerning alleged
impurities or abnormalities in food. Not all of these were substantiated
on investigation. As might be expected most complaints
dealt with the more common items of food. Thus, five referred to
loaves of bread and four to bottled milk. This is not a high
number, having regard to the number of units of these two staple
foods sold in the district in the course of a year.
In all appropriate instances advice was given with a view to
securing the improvement of technique and premises. In eight
cases warning letters were sent to the firms responsible and
prosecutions were instituted as follow:—
Hair curler in milk bottle—fine £10, plus £3 3s. costs.
Portion of label in loaf—fined £30, plus £3 3s. costs.
Pork sausage sold in mouldy condition—conditional discharge
£10 10s. costs.