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29
We also pointed out that the warning statement of the label
"dangerous—not to be used unless diluted," which is required to be
carried on articles of this nature by the Labelling of Food Order 1953,
appears on the label of this article in type of a less size than is required
by the above Order.
(vii) Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955
The Public Health Inspectors continue to devote a considerable
amount of time to the inspection of food premises of all types to ensure
that the requirements of the above Regulations are complied with.
Provision is not made in these Regulations for the service of
Statutory Notices in the case of contraventions and, legally, every
contravention found by the inspectors could result in prosecution.
However, in practice, it is rare that the contraventions observed are
sufficiently serious as to warrant immediate legal action. When
contraventions are noted, they are immediately drawn to the attention
of the occupier, and the need for improvement explained. This verbal
intimation is always followed by a letter, indicating the nature of the
offence, and allowing the offender a period of grace in which to comply
with the Regulations. This procedure has been adopted with a view to
educating food traders, rather than to prosecute, and it appears to be
paying dividends as the general standard of the food shops in the district
has greatly improved.
I addition to the inspection of food shops and restaurants, frequent
visits are made to factory and school canteens, and other food preparing
premises. The two main difficulties experienced with the enforcement
of the Regulations are (a) the protection of open foodstuffs exposed
for saw on stalls in the open market and (b) smoking by food handlers.
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 no in difficulty is that this habit is so widespread and ingrained
and same food handlers, especially the stallholders, do not appreciate
that they should be subjected to this prohibition, whilst the customer is
not. Now people appear to appreciate that the reason for prohibiting the
use of obacco including snuff, whilst handling open food is that the habit
bring 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 six persons for
smoking whilst handling open food, four 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
£1 to £2.
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.