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12
FOOD.
Under section 14, Food and Drugs Act 1938, 75 premises are registered
for the sale of ice-cream and 38 premises for the manufacture or preparation of
preserved food. Four dairies are registered under the Milk & Dairies Regulations,
1949.
Regular inspections of food shops, restaurants and stores have been made
and advice given in hygienic food preparation and handling, particular stress
being paid to the importance of personal hygiene.
A copy of the comprehensive booklet entitled "Clean Catering" prepared
by the Ministry of Food was sent to all catering establishments in the district
for information and guidance.
The hygienic storage and handling of food continued to show improvement.
As will be seen in the Chief Sanitary Inspector's Report, a considerable
amount of food has been surrendered by the food traders and their applications
for examinations to be made of foodstuffs of which they are doubtful as to the
fitness, helps to safeguard the purity of the food supply.
No animals were slaughtered in the district.
Food Poisoning.
There was no outbreak of food poisoning during the year but seven
isolated cases were notified. Six of these were caused by organisms of the
salmonella group and in the other the cause was not known.
No suspected food was available for examination, but sausage meat
which had been kept for some days during hot weather in one case, and the
remains of a meat pie stored in unhygienic and warm conditions in another, were
the likely sources of infection in those instances.
A set of posters illustrating the causes of and advice on how to prevent
food poisoning was exhibited in a prominent position in the Public Library, and
the School and Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics. Other posters were
displayed on notice boards in the district and at school canteens.
Towards the end of the year the Council issued a full statement to the
local Press, which they kindly published, calling attention to the need for
vendors of food, those engaged in the handling of food and the public generally
to observe certain precautions in order to prevent the incidence of food poisoning.
The great importance of thoroughly washing their hands after using the
watercloset cannot be too strongly emphasised to all persons engaged in handling
food, whether in the factory, shop, canteen or the home.
My thanks are due to the Chairman and Members of the Public Health
Committee for their cordial support during the year, and also to the staff of the
Public Health Department for their ready co-operation at all times.
I am, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
B. E. HAWKINS,
Medical Officer of Health.