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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Pesticides in
food
The Association of Municipal Corporations for the third year in succession invited the Council to take
part in a programme of sampling of foodstuffs in order to determine the amount of residual pesticides
present.
During the period May to August 1972, a total of nineteen samples of specified foods were bought
from local shops and submitted to the Public Analyst. As in previous years the levels of pesticides
found in these samples were not excessive.
Food complaints
During the year, 186 food complaints were received. These were all investigated and in the majority of
cases warning letters were sent. However, proceedings were instituted on 33 occasions and the results
are shown in the appropriate table. Many of the complaints received concerned foreign matter in
food products.
Unsound food
All types of food are inspected to ensure their fitness. There were frequent requests from food
vendors for the inspection of foodstuffs and sixty tons of food were subsequently condemmed by the
Department.
Food hygiene
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 and the Food Hygiene (Market Stalls and Delivery
Vehicles) Regulations 1966 provide for the cleanliness of food premises and stalls, etc.
Two manufacturers within the borough export food. To comply with foreign import regulations
eighteen certificates of fitness, accompanying the food consignments, were issued.
Imported Food
Regulations 1968
These Regulations require the examination of imported foods intended for human consumption.
Where the containers have not been examined at the port of entry, the importers give the port health
authority an undertaking that the containers have been sealed and will not be opened until they reach
their destination. During the year port health authorities notified 22 such consignments as arriving in
the borough and in each case the consignment was examined and found to be satisfactory.
Registration of
food premises
Premises used for the manufacture, storage and sale of ice-cream or the preparation or manufacture
of preserved and pickled foods must be registered by the local authority. There are 766 premises
registered for ice-cream and 121 in respect of preserved foods.
Middlesex County
Council Act 1950
At the end of the year 59 hawkers of food were licensed by the local authority, after inspection of
vehicles and storage arrangements.
Ice-cream
Ice cream (Heat
Treatment, etc)
Regulations 1959
In accordance with these regulations 29 samples of loose or soft ice-cream were submitted for
bacteriological examination.
Milk, Dairies and
Cream Substitutes
Milk (Special
Designation)
Regulations 1963/65
These regulations require any person producing, treating, storing or distributing milk to be licensed.
Producers' licences are issued by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through the County
Agricultural Executive Committee. At the end of the year four persons were licensed.
During the year two premises were licensed by the Council for the treatment of milk and 228
premises for distribution. The Milk (Special Designations) Specified Areas Order 1951 restricts the
sale of milk by retail to the designated milks. Dealers' licences were issued under the following
designations: Pasteurised, 160; Sterilised, 164; Ultra-heat treated, 110; and Untreated, 7. Supplies
are sampled regularly to check the bacteriological content of the milk. Of the 1 73 samples examined,
four were unsatisfactory. The quality of pasteurised milk supplied to schools continued to be
satisfactorv.
Mi Ik and Dairies
(General)
Regulations 1959
Provisions are made in respect of hygiene, construction, equipment and cleansing of premises where
milk is produced, processed, handled or stored. Regular inspections were carried out and conditions
were found to be satisfactory.
Markets,
slaughterhouses and
knackers' yards
There are no cattle markets, slaughterhouses or knackers' yards within the borough. See Tables
(30), (31) and (32).
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