View report page

Complaints
Four complaints were received about dirty milk bottles and eleven instances were
reported alleging the presence of foreign material in foodstuffs. In addition, 27 complaints
or enquiries were received relating to unsound food. Of the latter, one case
was due to the infestation of fish with a common parasite harmless to man; two cans
of food were spoiled because of damage to the containers; in two cases foodstuff was
spoiled because it was not properly protected against insects; investigation showed
that in 15 cases failure by shopkeepers to sell perishable stock in rotation was the
cause of loss of quality; one complaint arose from a mishap when a delivery boy
dropped meat into flood water in the road and in six instances enquiry showed that
the complainants' fears were groundless.
These cases were dealt with informally with the exception of one in which information
was laid before the magistrates. It is anticipated that the hearing will be early
in 1964.
The problem of the dirty milk bottle appears insoluble. There is no doubt that
milk suppliers take precautions incurring heavy expense in trying to prevent the re-issue
of milk bottles not thoroughly cleansed. To a large extent the public is to blame
because of the misuse of the empty bottles. The one complete remedy, and in my
opinion an overdue reform, is the introduction of the disposable carton in place of
the bottle. In the meantime the rinsing of empty bottles and their immediate return
would go a long way towards solving the difficulty.
In case of foreign material in food there is often difficulty in establishing responsibility
or in producing satisfactory evidence to show when or where the material complained
of was introduced into the article. Bearing in mind the vast amount of
packaged and factory fashioned food sold, the number of complaints is small.
Statistical Tables—see pages 78-80.
INSPECTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
The work of the public health inspectors encompasses a widening field and the
principles upon which good environmental hygiene is built remain the same; pure
water, clean food, clean air, adequate shelter and the removal of conditions inimical
to healthy surroundings. The achievement of these desiderata is the aim of the
department. In pursuit of this objective a total of 17,169 visits were made to houses,
business and industrial premises and places in which food is handled. Arising from
these visits numerous defects and short-comings were found. In consequence, 436
informal and 13 statutory notices were served, resulting in repairs and sanitary improvements
being carried out; in no case was it necessary for the Council to take legal
proceedings or carry out work in default of owners.
32