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In the Borough there are some 2,392 business premises, made up of factories,
industrial undertakings, food premises-catering establishments, shops, etc. - involving
some 3,171 activities including registration and licensing. 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. During the year 4,452 inspections were carried out, 55 notices
were served and 237 new registrations and/or licences were dealt with. Attention is
drawn to the statistical section (Part II) which gives detailed information as to the
Acts, Orders and Regulations involved and the action which has been taken.
FOOD PREMISES-INSPECTION
There are 1,500 premises-comprising shops, factories, catering establishments,
schools, clubs, staff and factory canteens, stalls, etc., -where food is sold, prepared,
stored, handled or transported. The number of visits of inspection in relation to these
premises carried out during the year amounts to some 2,213 and 49 formal notices in
relation to such contraventions of the Pood Hygiene Regulations as provision of separate
facilities for hand washing, and for washing of food and equipment, provision of
hot and cold water, first aid kit, locker accommodation, faulty construction and maintenance
etc., were served.
Routine visits to the Council's Pleasure Ground, Lea Bridge Road, were made by
Public Health Inspectors during Easter, Whitsun and August Pairs, Pood hawkers' stalls,
mobile canteens, etc., were inspected and registrations checked. Inspections were also
carried out during the Cricket Festival held at the Sports Ground, High Road, Leyton,
in August. It is pleasing to report continued general improvement in the standard of
hygiene practised by food vendors. It appears that inspections of the Pleasure Ground
during Bank Holiday Pairs over the past years have had the desired effect, both in
regard to ensuring that all food vendors are registered with the Council, and that
trading is conducted in a hygienic manner,,
FOOD - INSPECTION AND SAMPLING
The taking of samples of food for bacteriological and chemical examination forms
an important part of the work of the Public Health Inspectors in the campaign for clean
and safe food. Ice-cream premises were given special attention during the summer months.
In the case of one particular ice-cream manufacturer, bacteriological results were
found to be consistently poor and a thorough investigation was made into the method of
manufacture, storage and sale, accompanied by bacteriological checks at each stage.
Swabs were taken, in co-operation with the Public Health Laboratory, of all the
implements used, including scoops, weighing machines, freezers and ladles, while
bacteriological samples were obtained of all the ingredients, before and after mixing,
including ice-cream powder, water supplies, milk and the finished product.
The results obtained proved that the fault lay with the person concerned in the
preparation of the ice-cream, and not in the implements or equipment, and subsequent
batches of ice-cream, made under the guidance and supervision of the Public Health
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