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10
This further decrease is again highly creditable to
the Borough of Ealing but it should be remembered that
Pood Poisoning is essentially preventible and I feel that
the suggestions I made in a previous report for the production
of safe food cannot be repeated too often.
Pood handlers should realise fully their responsibility
and should have a high standard of personal hygiene Their
hands should be in a good condition and clean their finger
nails should be short clean overalls should be worn and
hair covered with a cap. Minor illnesses should be repor
ted. Cuts should be treated and covered Colds, running
ears or diarrhoeal illnesses should be 'stood off' or
watched carefully
Firms should provide adequate facilities for their
employees for washing their hands. The importance of this
especially after use of the toilet, should be emphasised
and notices to this effect displayed in lavatories
Staff should be selected with care and those with a
history of enteric or any such illness should not be
chosen.
With regard to the technique of the kitchen, manual
handling of food should be avoided wherever possible
Refrigeration is a keynote and wrappings and covers for
food on display are essential,
Reconstituted eggs custard powders and so on should
not be kept in a warm place The kitchen should be con
structed so that it is easily cleaned ventilation and
lighting should be adequate and there should also be
adequate storage space
The necessity for the above precautions has been fully
realised in the Borough and the steps taken by the Chief
Public Health Inspector and his staff to achieve the
desired effect are mentioned in a later part of this
report,
MEASLES,
The biennial decrease previously mentioned occurred
in 1956 when 726 cases were notified compared with 2,422
in 1955,
MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION,
Two notifications were received and upon inspection
no overcrowding was found.