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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
During 1970, an attempt was made to measure carbon monoxide from
vehicular traffic in Church Street, Enfield, but because of technical difficulties
with the infra-red gas analyser used for this purpose, the readings were
considered unreliable. During 1971 the work was continued and recordings
of the level of carbon monoxide were made from May until the end of the
year. The purpose of the investigation was to compare present conditions
with those existing in 1968/69, prior to the introduction of the one way
traffic system. There is now a general reduction in the level of carbon
monoxide, and, in particular, the total times for concentrations above 30
parts per million are low, occurring for less than 0.02% of the period sampled.
(See Table 28).
Food and Drugs
Food and Drugs
Act 1955
The Food and Drugs Act 1955 provides regulations covering most aspects of
the processing and selling of food and drugs for human consumption.
The Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1971 came into force
on 1st September, 1971, limiting the amount of sodium nitrate used in
bacon, ham and pickled meat.
During the year a great deal of publicity was focused on manufacturers'
methods of date coding of perishable food stuffs. These indicate either the
date of packing or the date when the food should be removed from sale. The
Composition and
Labelling
Food Standards Committee was asked to review the whole question of date
marking and this Council has submitted its observations to that body.
Seven hundred and forty samples of food and drugs were submitted to the
public analyst and 172 samples of milk were examined in the Department's
own laboratory, representing a sampling rate of 3.4 per 1,000 of the
population. The Public Analyst reported adversely on 92 samples. Of these,
64 were samples of packaged foods which were incorrectly labelled; 28
samples were unsatisfactory, inferior or unfit to eat. In three cases both
labelling infringements and unsatisfactory conditions were found. All samples
of milk were satisfactory.
The new Labelling of Food Regulations which come into force on the 1st
January, 1973, provide, inter alia, for an improved standard of legibility on
labels, and therefore the attention of a number of manufacturers was drawn
to the lack of contrast between the printing on the label and the background
colour. Pastel backgrounds with printing in a deeper shade of the same
colour can be confusing, particularly to those with poor eyesight. Fluorescent
lighting, now a standard feature in supermarkets, is available in four shades
of "white", and at least one of these shades - "warm white" - lessens the
contrast to a point where even a person with normally acute vision has
difficulty in reading the smaller print.
The "Elixir" mentioned in last year's report was the subject of further
consideration, but it was decided that amended labelling and advertising
appeared satisfactory. The matter will be kept under review.
A sample of a simulated meat product with "cheese like" flavour was found
to be deficient in protein on the stated content. A recent advance in food
technology has been the production of vegetable protein with the texture of
meats such as beef, ham or chicken. Approved additives supply the flavour
and colour. It is important that such products should state clearly their duration
and should not mislead as to their nutritive value. In this instance the
manufacturer has agreed to delete the protein claim.
Two products, crystallised fruits and iced biscuits, were found to contain
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