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Cafes, Restaurants and Canteens
Improvement in the standards of hygiene in cafes, restaurants and canteens continued during the
year. Two premises were provided with running hot water, and 33 had defective and dirty walls repaired and
redecorated.
Education in Food Hygiene
Lectures and talks, illustrated with film shows, film-strips and bacteriological cultures, were given
to canteens staff, social and political organisations, and school-leavers.
The Public Health Department and the Clean Food Guild displayed in the Social Services section
of the Willesden Show, two stands on food hygiene, which attracted many people.
Food Poisoning
There was one outbreak of food poisoning during the year in a factory involving 40 workers.
The causative organism was Clostridium welchii, isolated from a sample of Irish stew eaten at the staff
canteen by all the affected people, who recovered quickly.
The source of' the infection was not found, although it is possible that the mutton in the stew was
already contaminated when it arrived at the canteen. The meat was cooked and left to cool overnight, the
fat was removed, and barley and fresh vegetables were added, the mixture was heated and allowed to
simmer until served at lunchtime.
Instructions were given to the canteen staff that to prevent food poisoning, freshly cooked meat
should preferably be served hot. If it has to be eaten the following day, it should be cooled rapidly
(within 1 ½hours of preparation), stored in a refrigerator, and heated well before serving.
Contaminated Food
There was an increase in the number of specimens of contaminated food and dirty milk bottles
dealt with by the Public Health Department.
Members of the public reported 26 specimens of contaminated food, but no action was taken in
14 of them because the firm concerned did not appear to have been negligent. The Council prosecuted six
firms and cautioned six. Five of the prosecutions were successful, with fines and costs amounting to
£25.3.0 and £20.6.0. The sixth case was dismissed.
Eleven dirty milk bottles were reported by other local authorities and the public Four were
referred to other local authorities for action as the milk was bottled in their areas. The remaining 7 were
reported to the Public Health Committee and the Council prosecuted 5 dairies and administered a caution
to 2. Three prosecutions were successful, with fines and costs amounting to £22 and £9.13.6. One
summons was dismissed and in the remaining cases the defendants were granted absolute discharge, but
£11 costs were awarded to the Council.