View report page

15
in connection with the handling, wrapping and delivery of food sold or
intended for sale for human consumption, and in connection with the
sale or exposure for sale in the open air of food intended for human
consumption." The number of inspections made amounted to 2,038.
67 notices were served and 38 applications were dealt with for registration
of food premises under section 14 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and
food hawkers under section 103 of the Essex County Council Act, 1952.
The Council's pleasure ground, Lea Bridge Road, was visited when
fairs were operating during public holidays and as a result a number of
itinerant food vendors were found not to be registered. Reports on this
matter were submitted to the Public Health Committee, and the question
as to the best practical means of exercising appropriate control over
travelling vendors of food who enter the Borough only when fairs,
circuses and like functions are operating, was discussed.
Full details as to inspections, notices, registrations, improvements
effected to food premises, etc., are given later in this report.
It is pleasing to place on record appreciation of the Co-operation
received from food traders in the Borough in complying with our requirements,
but it should be realised that clean food is not wholly concerned
with the structural condition of premises. The most important and unpredictable
factor in the campaign for cleaner food is the worker. Carefully
designed and elaborate food premises are not proof against the
careless food handler who fails to observe the elementary principles of
personal hygiene. It is often said that "one man's meat is another man's
poison." In relation to food handling it could be said that one man's
poison may be another man's meat. This is the crux of the problem.
One employee in a food establishment, by ignorance, apathy or mere
carelessness, may jeopardise the health of hundreds of people. The
education of the food handler is therefore the greatest single step that
could be taken in producing cleaner food.
The Medical Officer of Health and Chief Sanitary Inspector have
given a number of lectures on food hygiene to food handlers at school
canteens and catering establishments and to local organisations.
Unfortunately the existing staff of Sanitary Inspectors is fully employed
in dealing with routine day-to-day requirements and there is little margin
to enable this important aspect of environmental hygiene to receive
adequate attention.
Diseases of Animals Acts and Orders.
The administration of the law relating to diseases of animals is
carried out partly by officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food and partly by officers of County Councils and local sanitary
authorities. In this Borough Sanitary Inspectors are officers authorised
under the various Acts.
The Diseases of Animals Acts and Orders deal generally with the
prevention and control of outbreaks of scheduled diseases and protection
of animals against unnecessary suffering, and in this connection 77 inspections
were made.
Atmospheric Pollution.
The year under review has been marked by the introduction by the
Minister of Housing and Local Government of the Clean Air Bill,
following the recommendations of the Air Pollution Committee (Beaver