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cables, and by burrowing beneath buildings undermine foundations. They also carry many
serious diseases which can be transmitted to man and domestic animals.
STAND No. 21 CLEAN FOOD PLATE No.9
In the Borough of Leyton there are some 2,373-odd business premises, made up of factories,
industrial undertakings, food premises - catering establishments, shops, etc.
involving some 3,087-odd activities including registration and licensing. All these premises
are subject to routine inspection by the Public Health Inspectors to ensure compliance with
the provisions of the Acts, Orders and Regulations controlling them, and for the welfare of
those who work in them. The work of the department in relation to Food and Drugs administration
embraces many activities and is concerned broadly with the soundness and purity of food
and the conditionsin which food is prepared, transported, stored, handled and sold. Food is
inspected to determine its fitness for human consumption and samples are submitted to the
Public Analyst, who reports on its constituents and freedom or otherwise from adulteration.
However, clean food is not wholly concerned with the structural condition of premises, a
most important and unpredictable factor in the campaign for cleaner food is the worker.
Carefully designed and elaborately equipped food premises are not proof against the care
less 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 may by ignorance, apathy or mere carelessness
jeopardise the health of hundreds of people. The education of the food handler is therefore
the greatest single step that can be taken in producing cleaner food, and it is for this
reason that of the many aspects of food and drugs administration the hygiene of food hand
ling was selected as the main theme for this stand.
HEALTH EDUCATION FILMS
The exhibition display stands were supplemented by films on air pollution food hygiene,
rodent and pest control, and housing defects these were shown in the Council Chamber each
evening and were very well attended,
ESSAY COMPETITION
School children who visited the exhibition were invited by their teachers to write an
essay on "The exhibit which interested me most". Of the 12 essays which were awarded a prize
by His Worshipful the Mayor of Leyton Councillor Mrs.A.M.M.Burrell.J.P., 8 dealt with the
environmental health services. The results of this competition were most gratifying for
young persons of school age to write about technical subjects and such broad issues as atmos
pheric pollution slum clearance, housing improvements, and rodent and insect pest control
reflects credit not only on the manner in which the work of the department was portrayed but
also on the way the exhibits were presented by the staff in attendance.
It is also desired to acknowledge once again the co operation received from various
organisations and Government departments, full details of which were given in the Exhibition
Guide.
I reported to the July meeting of the Public Health Committee that *the Exhibition has
been the best example of teamwork with which it has been my pleasure to be associated*
which opinion was endorsed by the public Health Committee and the Council, vide Minute 304
"RESOLVED (a) That the Committee place on record their sincere appreciation of the valuable
work and unstinted efforts of all members of the staff of the Public Health Department, and
others, during the period of the Exhibition and in connection with its preparation and (b)
That suitable letters of thanks be sent to all persons and organisations whose co operation
and assistance helped to ensure the success of the venture".
A similar recommendation was passed by the Leyton Health Area Sub Committee at their
meeting in June. 1957.
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