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28
It has been extremely difficult to impress on stallholders the real need
for protecting food from contamination in the open air, but, after much
perseverance, there is evidence of improvement. As regards smoking,
the main difficulty is that this habit is so widespread and ingrained
and some food handlers, especially stallholders, do not appreciate that
they should be subjected to this prohibition, whilst the customer is not.
Few people appear to appreciate that the reason for prohibiting the use
of tobacco including snuff, whilst handling open food is that the habit
brings the fingers into close contact with the nose and mouth both
possible reservoirs of food poisoning germs, the hands thus become
contaminated, and the contamination is then transferred to the foodstuffs.
During the past year it was necessary to prosecute twelve persons
for smoking, whilst handling open food, nine of these being stallholders
in the Market. Unfortunately, the Courts do not take a very serious
view of this offence, as the fines imposed were purely nominal, varying
from £\ to £5.
Onion Peelers
As from the 1st June, 1958, the giving out " for reward " of food
for preparation for human consumption on domestic premises is
prohibited. The peeling of prawns, shrimps and onions is permissible
on domestic premises, provided those premises are registered with the
local authority, and that the principal provisions of the Regulations are
observed.
In this district there are 121 premises registered for the peeling of
onions.
The onions are distributed and collected by a large firm of pickle
manufacturers, whose premises are situate in Barking. It is the
responsibility of the suppliers to inspect these premises to ensure that
conditions are satisfactory before applying for registration; the premises
are afterwards subjected to inspection by the Public Health Inspectors.
Generally, these premises are quite satisfactory, and the work is carried
out under cleanly conditions. It has only been necessary to refuse
registration in a few instances.
On being requested, the firm readily supplied washable linen bags
for the onions to be packed in after peeling. It is not wholly desirable
that this type of work should be permitted in domestic prem ses, and
it is hoped that in the near future pickle manufacturers will be able
to arrange for this work to be done in premises, specially constructed
for the purpose.
Educational Activities
In addition to the routine duties of inspection and observations,
the Public Health Inspectors continue to give talks and lectures to local
organisations, and, wherever possible, great stress is laid on food
hygiene. At least once during the year a lecture is given to the staffs
employed in the school canteens.