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In addition to samples purchased in the Borough for analysis
or for examination, a total of 34 labelled stacks and displays of fish,
276 meat, 189 apples, and 93 various types of citrus fruit and soft
fruit were examined in the shops. 94 stacks of vegetables and 25 of
other miscellaneous foods were also examined. Formal samples
are selectively procured from the retail shops based on these examinations
of labelled displays of natural foods where there is doubt
as to the accuracy of the labelling or where there is need for further
examination. The inspectors of the Department have over a
number of years acquired a considerable expertise in the identification
of cuts of meat and of varieties of fish and fruit.
Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887 - 1953. Inspections are carried
out under the above Acts to ensure that the requirements of the
various Marking Orders relating to the indication of origin of imported
foodstuffs are applied. Inspections were made at 244
premises, 143 displays of meat, 325 of apples, 186 of tomatoes, 308
of poultry, and 12 of bacon, were examined. Only minor breaches
of the Orders, which were dealt with by verbal warnings, have been
disclosed, apart from two traders, one of whom was sent an official
caution for selling American lamb's liver as " Empire," and the
other of whom sold Yugoslav meat and offal without disclosing its
origin and inferring that it was in fact English.
Safe Milk. Forty samples of raw milk were procured in the
Borough and tested for the presence of tubercle bacilli. All were
satisfactory.
Seventy-five samples of pasteurised and sterilised milk were
procured from retailers in the Borough and tested to ascertain
whether or not pasteurisation or sterilisation had been correctly
performed. No failure has been reported. Fifty-two inspections
of premises at which milk is pasteurised or kept for sale, were carried
out during the year to ensure that the premises conceined conformed
to the requirements of the Milk (Special Designation)
Regulations, 1960.
The Labelling of Food Order, 1953. This Order requires prepacked
food to be marked with the name and address of the packer
or labeller, or to bear a registered trade mark ; to be marked
with its common or usual name or its appropriate designation ; and
to bear a statement of ingredients if the food consists of more than
one ingredient. It also controls the manner in which the presence
of vitamins and minerals is disclosed. A total of 241 premises have
been visited in connection with the Order, and 1,425 items of food
were examined. One infringement was disclosed. This was a
packet of powdered soup described as " watercresr soup," in respect
of which the ingredients were not stated in the manner prescribed
by the Order. The importer was required to make the necessary
corrections to the labelling of the food.