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The public shows an increasing awareness of the need for the clean handling of
foodstuffs and when housewives no longer tolerate bad conditions, standards will
improve. This does not imply that local food shops are not in the main, clean and
well equipped. Nevertheless some food handlers do from time to time commit bad
practices in the handling of food.
Registration of Food Premises
Premises used for the manufacture, storage or sale of ice cream and for the
preparation or manufacture of sausages or potted, pressed, pickled or preserved food
have to be registered. This is designed to ensure that before such operations are
commenced the premises are satisfactory for the purpose.
There are 157 shops registered for the sale of ice cream. Seventy-five premises
are registered for the manufacture of sausages and the preservation of ham or other
meat. In addition, there are 6 dairies registered in accordance with the Milk and
Dairies (General) Regulations, 1959.
Ice cream and ice lollies sold in Finchley are obtained from one or other of the
several large manufacturers whose product is nationally known to be of a high standard.
None is manufactured in the Borough.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is a notifiable disease under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and
as such is described in the paragraph on the Prevalence and Control of Infectious and
Other Diseases.
Hawkers
Twenty-four hawkers are registered under Section 11 of the Middlesex County
Council Act, 1950, 6 of whom sell fruit and vegetables from barrows in the streets;
the remainder sell greengrocery and other foodstuffs from door to door. In each case,
the premises in which the food is stored must be approved by the local authority concerned;
in 14 cases, the premises, being situated in Finchley, were inspected and found
to be satisfactory.
Slaughterhouses
There is one, privately owned, licensed slaughterhouse in the district and although
equipped and maintained to standards which satisfy the Regulations as to hygiene
and the prevention of cruelty to animals, it is not in use.
To ensure that all animals are humanely slaughtered only skilled operators may
do this work; two persons were licensed as slaughtermen during the year.
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