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18
principles involved are of more importance, although the
two are complementary inasmuch as a well-designed and
equipped food premise aids and encourages the food handler
and makes his work easier. Opportunity was taken in the
course of visits to food premises to talk with food handlers
on the various aspects of food hygiene. It is hoped that
these informal discussions on matters concerning the safe
handling of food will have had beneficial results.
There is undoubtedly a need for a better understanding
of the subject, and it may be that further stimulus
will be provided by the proposed Friern Barnet Clean Food
Guild. The Steering Committee, composed of representatives
of the Council and of the food traders, has met and agreed on
the main issues. Progress has been temporarily suspended
so that full consideration can be given to impending food
legislation now before Parliament.
In the meantime we are continuing to emphasise the
importance of this subject whenever the opportunity can be
created, both to the food handler and public alike. I
have given a number of talks to local organisations, while
the Council has under considerntion the purchase of a sound
film apparatus. A kiosk in front of the Town Hall is
being converted to provide a display window to facilitate
a programme of health education which will, of course,
include food hygiene.
Food Inspection.
There are no slaughterhouses in use in the
District. The last private slaughterhouse was closed
several years ago and has been adapted and used for other
purposes. There are, however, three piggeries. Animals
are occasionally slaughtered at these 'premises in an
emergency such as injury or sickness, when it is not practicable
for them to be removed to a slaughterhouse. Twenty
pigs were slaughtered in these circumstances during the
year - eighteen in emergency and two under the self-suppliers
scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Food. The carcases
of six of the pigs slaughtered in emergency, which were
associated with an outbreak of swine fever, were totally
condemned.
Of the foodstuffs examined at the various shops
and stores the following were condemned as unfit for human
consumption: