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62
SECTION E.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOODS.
INSPECTIONS.
There are known to be 53 premises within the district in which
food is prepared, or where it is stored or from which it is sold.
Details of the different categories are given later in this Section.
A total of 3,197 visits of inspection have been made to the
premises, which indicates a considerable increase in this aspect of
the Department's work, over the year.
It is interesting to note, too, that the number of defects
remedied at 502 shows an increase. This is an indication of the
policy of vigorous action pursued since the passing of the Food
Hygiene Regulations 1955, which has now resulted to a large extent,
in premises being brought to the structural standard required.
It is still necessary to insist that the hot water washing
facilities are used and that the other personal requirements of the
Regulations are complied with. In many instances, it is found that
the personnel in food shops. restaurants and canteens frequently
change. It is the responsibility of the management to train the new
staff in hygiene precautions and the Inspectors offer considerable
assistance in this direction.
Generally it has been found that owners of premises and their
staffs are co-operative and the Inspector's verbal requirements are
usually complied with. It was necessary to serve only 164 notices,
63 of which were confirmed in writing, and in no instance had
legal proceedings to be instituted under the Food Hygiene
Regulations, 1955.
FOOD COMPLAINTS.
Twenty-one complaints concerning conditions found by
purchasers of food, and alleged to be abnormal, were investigated.
These enquiries are often protracted, as frequently the foodstuff
was prepared outside the district, and in a few instances in foreign
countries. In some cases, detailed investigation is required to
ensure that foreign matter had not entered the food, possibly
inadvertently, whilst it was in the possession of the complainant.
As is usual, the largest number of complaints concerned
milk (4) or bread and flour confectionery (6). Although the dairy
concerns take elaborate precautions to prevent milk being filled into
dirty bottles, a proportion filters through, one being found to
contain an empty shampoo sachet. In this connection the public
doubtlessly, must share some of the blame for the gross manner in