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arsenic contamination was a little high. Cleansing would have made
them fit for consumption.
As a result the exposure for sale of the apples noted was by agreement
avoided and the apples were returned to the wholesaler.
There is a suggestion that contamination of this kind is largely
concentrated in the eye and stem of the apple and does not significantly
permeate the skin but that is of interest largely insofar as it affects the
feasibility of cleaning the fruit subsequently.
Practical difficulties still exist in ensuring that food posssibly contaminated
in this fashion does not reach a stage of general distribution
before effective restrictive action can be taken. To secure, for example,
that a consignment does not get beyond the Port of entry until it is
cleared is difficult, and by the time the products have secured passage
through wholesalers, main branches of shops to subsidiary branches and
so on, it is evident that the like passage of information stage by stage
from one Authority to another will have taken time—the more so as
adresses of various shops are not always initially referable with complete
accuracy to the proper Authority. Even, however, if the existing system
may have its defects it does secure that a national exchange of information
enables ultimately an appropriate check to be kept on any product
from the time of its arrival in the country to its final exposure for sale
possibly in some remote country district.
Food Premises.
The number of food premises in the district may be classified as
follows (where more than one trade is carried on at any premises then
an entry is made in respect of each trade): —
Bakehouses 14
Butchers 74
Cafes 53
Confectioners (bread, cakes etc.) 41
„ (sweets, etc.) 118
Fish Shops 29
Grocers 183
Greengrocers 99
Ice Cream Dealers 279
Ice Cream Manufacturers 3
No significant alteration in numbers has taken place save that Ice
Cream Manufacturers have been reduced from 14 to 3.
Food and Drugs Act, 1955—Food Hygiene Regulations 1955.
The major initial work under this head has been completed and new
premises (for this purpose) provided most cause for thought.
Section 105 of the Essex County Council Act, 1952 provides for
prior notification of 14 days in this connection but its provisions are