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12
FOOD
Under section 14, Food and Drugs Act 1938, 81 premises are registered
for the sale of ice-cream and 39 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.
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
Six isolated cases due to salmonella organisms were reported, but it was
not possible to obtain specimens of food eaten to identify the cause.
Five other cases occurred in one family which necessitated their removal
to hospital, as a result of the sudden onset of blurred vision, dizziness, abdominal
pain, vomiting, soon after eating mushrooms grown in their own garden shed.
Tests of mushrooms and fungi proved negative and no definite evidence could be
obtained of the cause of the attack.
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.
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.
MORTUARY
During the year 34 bodies were brought to the Mortuary where post mortem
examinations were conducted by a Home Office Pathologist.
A refrigerating chamber is installed in the mortuary.