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FOOD - INSPECTION AND SAMPLING
Complaints regarding foodstuffs purchased by members of the public in 1963 which
were reported to the Public Health Committee totalled 26. A wide variety of foodstuffs
was implicated, i.e. Bread and Confectionery (10), Fruit (5), Meat (2), Sausages (2),
Pies (2), Milk (2), Fish (1), Pickles (1) and Cream (1). The reason for complaint was
either the presence of foreign matter or the appearance of mould growth on the food
indicating lack of supervision and care at retail premises. A somewhat unusual food
complaint concerned a piece of haddock purchased from a local shop which receives its
supplies from Billingsgate Fish Market. The purchaser discovered three nematode worms
in the musculature of the fish, which upon identification proved to be of the Anisakis
family, a natural parasite of live haddock. Although no formal action is required in a
case such as this, the complainant at least had the satisfaction of knowing that his
complaint was fully investigated and that he was informed of the result. The decisions
of the Public Health Committee in relation to the food complaints mentioned were:prosecutions
(7), warning letter (13), and no further action (6).
A total of 133 samples of food and drugs were taken for submission to the Public
Analyst for chemical examination and 27 bacteriological samples were examined by the
Public Health Laboratories. The bacteriological samples comprised routine checks of
milk and ice-cream, and although five of the ice-cream samples were found to be unsatisfactory,
in accordance with the provisional standard recommended by the Ministry of
Health, subsequent check samples proved satisfactory.
Only six unsatisfactory chemical samples were found during the year, and five of
these concerned proprietary canned meat foods which in the opinion of the public analyst
were low in meat content. As there is no statutory standard for this type of commodity,
the Committee decided to draw the attention of the manufacturer to the analyst's report
in two cases and take no further action in the remaining three. The other unsatisfactory
sample consisted of cooking apples which were on sale in a poor condition. In this
case a warning letter was sent to the retailer concerned.
Attention is drawn to the statistical section of the report, which gives details
of premises and businesses registered and/or licensed under the Food and Drugs Act,
Orders and Regulations. Full details are also given of inspections, notices, sampling,
legal proceedings, and improvements effected to business premises as a result of action
taken by the Department.
HOUSING - SLUM CLEARANCE - NUISANCE ABATEMENT
In spite of technological advancement and scientific achievements of this modern
age, one of the paramount needs of mankind - "somewhere to live"- still remains unfulfilled;
possession of a house of one's own, or the chance to rent a house, is for many
people as remote today as it ever was. In my report last year I drew attention to the
precarious plight of such people, who are forced to find accommodation in lodging houses
or-to use the terminology of the Housing Act, 1961- "houses in multiple occupation."
I pointed out that, because of the absence of rent control and security of tenure tenants
seem to be reluctant, if not afraid, to complain about the excessively high rents which
may be charged, or to co-operate with the local authority in encorcing the owner to
provide essential facilities, in case their action or their complaints should lead to
eviction. I also spotlighted certain deficiencies in the law available to the local
authority for the control of such houses. Since then the problem has received much
(14)