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During the year, it was suggested that we might hold a Clean
Food Week in the course of 1952. The idea of this Clean Food
Week was to stimulate interest in food hygiene in various ways,
including the organisation of a Clean Food Exhibition, the display
of posters, activities in the schools, newspaper articles, and other
types of activity designed to bring this important matter before the
general public. Unfortunately, these arrangements had later to be
postponed. It will be appreciated that, to hold a Clean Food Week
on a scale likely to appeal to our burgesses, and in keeping with
the traditions of the Borough, an expenditure running into several
hundred pounds would be involved. In the past, the Infestation
Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has been able
and prepared to assist in this direction, particularly in the way of
arranging Clean Food Exhibitions. When an approach was made
to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries we were informed that
they were no longer in a position to afford this assistance, because
of recent financial cuts. We were then left with the alternative of
postponing the project until times were more favourable, or
arranging a Clean Food Week on a restricted scale. The alternatives
were duly placed before the Public Health Committee, which
decided upon postponement. I am quite sure that this was a wise
move, as a local campaign in a district such as Southgate should
either be organised on an adequate scale, or should be dropped
until times are more propitious.
It need scarcely be emphasised that, although we are not
organising any specific Clean Food Campaign during 1952, the
work of supervision and health education will continue.
It is greatly to be regretted that the proposed Hygienic Food
Traders' Guild has not materialised. This matter more properly
belongs to the Annual Report for 1952, but it can be stated here
that local interest in the formation of a Southgate Food Traders'
Guild has not warranted the Council taking more active steps in
promoting such a venture.
The Council will be aware that the Public Health Department
arranges a number of film shows and talks during the year.
During 1951, many such film shows and talks were centred on the
question of clean food. This subject lends itself to discussion,
while an excellent film is available to accompany a talk. Although
most local organisations have already seen the best film available,
and have been supplied with a talk on food hygiene, we will
continue to offer this service.
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