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Food Unfit for Human Consumption
All kinds of foods are inspected for fitness for human consumption and frequent
requests are received for the inspection of canned goods at wholesale depots.
During 1965, 21 tons, 3 cwts., 38 lbs. of food were condemned by the Department.
No instances of unfit food offered for sale were found.
Food Hygiene
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1960, lay down requirements in
respect of cleanliness of food premises and stalls and of apparatus and equipment,
the hygienic handling of food, cleanliness of persons engaged in the handling of food
and their clothing, and the action to be taken where they suffer from or are carriers
of certain infections; the construction of food premises, their repair and maintenance
and the facilities, including sinks and washbasins, to be provided, and the temperature
at which certain foods are to be kept.
Although it is well appreciated that the most effective way to achieve high
standards of hygiene in food premises is by frequent inspection, this has not been
possible this year due to the acute staff shortages.
During the year prosecutions for offences in respect of seven premises were taken
and fines totalling £140 were imposed with total costs of fifteen guineas awarded.
Registration of Food Premises
All premises used for the sale, or the manufacture for the purpose of sale of
ice-cream, or the storage of ice-cream intended for sale, or the preparation or
manufacture of sausages or potted, pressed, pickled or preserved food intended for
sale, must be registered for that purpose by the local authority.
There are 779 premises in the Borough registered in respect of ice-cream and
352 in respect of sausages, etc.
Under the provisions of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1950, all hawkers
of food must be licensed by the local authority. In all cases the vehicle and food
storage arrangements are inspected and must be satisfactory before a licence is
granted.
There are 288 persons licensed as hawkers of food by the Borough.
In accordance with the provisions of the Ice-cream (Heat Treatment, etc.)
Regulations, 1959, a total of 61 samples of ice-cream was submitted to the public
health laboratory for bacteriological examination. The 12 samples falling within
the grades III or IV as determined by the methylene blue test are considered
unsatisfactory.
It will be noticed that the unsatisfactory ice-creams were all loose or soft
ice-cream.
After advice to traders on proper methods of sterilising equipment and utensils,
satisfactory results were obtained.
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