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Appendix 3.
Food Hygiene.
During 1948 the Council decided to institute a campaign
designed to improve the standard of food hygiene throughout
the Borough. As noted elsewhere in this Report, the campaign
was inaugurated at a meeting held in Minchenden School Canteen
on 1st June. The aims and objects of the campaign were the
subject of a special report to the Public Health Committee in
July, 1948, a copy of which is reproduced below:
FOOD HYCIENE
In planning our campaign on food hygiene, it might be as
well to begin by clearly defining our objects.
Bearing in mind the limited staff available for this type of
work, and the time which the staff must devote to other and
equally important duties, I am of opinion that our present
activities should very largely be confined to effecting improvement
in the standard of hygiene in establishments serving food.
We will, of course, continue to supervise premises in which food
is either stored, prepared or sold, and will not forget that this
duty must always be an integral part of any comprehensive
scheme designed to cover the field of hygiene. I do, however,
suggest that the preparation and serving of food in canteens
and cafes stands out as our most urgent problem, and that
this aspect of the work should receive the greater part of our
immediate attention.
We must also remember that our prime object should be
to encourage the proprietors and stall's of canteens and cafes to
carry out their part and to improve their methods. Our role should
be that of adviser rather than an operator or even administrator;
if we can persuade the individuals concerned to help themselves,
and to take a personal pride in their work and in the results
which they attain, there can be no doubt that the final outcome
will be much more satisfactory. It will, I am sure, be appreciated
that this point is one of considerable importance. We
must certainly use the statutory powers at our disposal but t
is quite obvious that the willing co-operation of proprietors and
staffs is very much more to be desired than forced compliance
with rules and regulations.
As 1 see it, our plan of campaign can be divided into two
parts, a short-term immediate policy, and a long-term policy which
may well have to be amended in the light of experience. The
short-term policy might be briefly described thus:-
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