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40
SECTION E.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOODS.
General.
Administration of the law relating generally to the protection
of the nation's food supply has always been a large and important
part of the duties of public health department staffs.
It is necessary, of course for Local Authorities to employ an
adequate number of properly qualified inspectors for this
supervisory work but it is equally necessary to obtain the full
co-operation of all persons engaged in the food trade and especially
those who actually handle the food.
Enforcement of the law is not in itself sufficient as there are
many occasions when the common sense and understanding of the
food handler prevents contamination of food which, if consumed,
would result in illness.
Part of the inspectors' duty therefore is to explain to food
handlers the purpose of the various acts and regulations so that
they will see themselves as equal guardians of the health of the
general public. There have been great improvements in the
hygienic preparation and sale of food in the past few years, but
there is still room for improvement in some establishments.
Food and Drugs Act, 1955.
Food Sampling.
226 Informal Samples of food and drugs were taken for
analysis.
The Food Hygiene Regulations of 1955 have enabled the
department to secure great improvements in the condition of food
premises during the past two years, and the opportunity has been
taken at all visits of inspection to explain the purpose of the
improvements which have for their object the prevention of food
poisoning.