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Inspections of foodshops under the Food Hygiene Regulations have
increased in number, and although this is one of the more mundane
routine duties of the Department, I feel it is one which bears good
results. There is no doubt that as the years pass by the food handlers
in the shops become more hygiene conscious and the owners of the
premises more inclined to carry out minor suggestions which a few
years ago they would have avoided if possible.
I should like to draw your attention to the paragraph in the report
on Pet Foods. This is a commodity which is now sold by shops
selling food for human consumption, mainly fish shops, but which on
the whole is not a satisfactory article to be in any food shop. Unfortunately
there is no means of preventing fish shops from supplying
pet food to customers, and it undoubtedly meets a demand which has
to be satisfied. I would feel far happier with regard to this article
if I could be sure that all the retailers selling pet food were scrupulously
careful in ensuing that all knives, scales and other articles used
in connection with pet foods were not also used for the cutting or
weighing of food for human consumption.
In conclusion I would express my thanks to every member of the
Public Health Department and in particular to my Deputy, Mr. Smith,
who has given me every support and has carried out his duties with
his usual efficiency. The amount of work as previously mentioned
has continued to increase, but the staff of the Department have coped
with it cheerfully. However, if the increase continues a point will be
reached when the clerical staff will have to be enlarged.
I also wish to thank all other officers of the Council for their assistance
and co-operation.
W. K. Pickup,
Chief Public Health Inspector.
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