View report page

20
THE FOOD HYGIENE REGULATIONS 1955 to 1957
Food Hygiene continued to form a prominent part of the
Department's work and during the year 2,974 visits were made to
food premises of all types.
In a number of factory canteens structural alterations and
modernisation of equipment was carried out.
The importance of protecting food by refrigeration was again
stressed and the improvements in this connection were most encouraging.
The number of fittings installed and improvements affected
were: Basins 6, Sinks 5, Hot Water 8, Clothes Lockers 4, Screening
10, Food Premises cleansed and repaired 42, Alterations and improvements
47.
Three entirely open-fronted fish shops, unfortunately, still
remain. Two of these are owned by a large firm of retail fishmongers
and it was hoped that these shops would be modernised
during the year, and indeed plans for this have been prepared.
For various reasons however, work had to be postponed but it is
confidently expected that work will start early in 1959.
Sampling of washing-up water and swab testing of kitchen
utensils and equipment were continued throughout the year at
64 premises including restaurants, cafes, school kitchens and sculleries,
factory canteens, hotel kitchens, public houses and shops.
Altogether 44 samples of washing up water and 118 swabs from
utensils and equipment were examined and in 35 cases, results
were considered to be unsatisfactory. In most of these cases it
was found that faulty washing up methods were to blame rather
than disregard for hygienic practices. Advice on washing up
technique was given and readily accepted. Follow up sampling
and swabbing were carried out with satisfactory results.
A shopkeeper was prosecuted under Section 8 of the Food and
Drugs Act, 1955, for selling a French Jam Sandwich which was
unfit for human consumption and was fined £10 with £2 3s. 0d. costs.
Another shopkeeper was prosecuted under this Section for selling
a loaf of bread which was unfit for human consumption and was
unconditionally discharged on payment of £13 13s. 0d. costs to the
Council.