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The cost of disinfestation at business premises is recovered from the occupiers; 122 had an annual
agreement with the Council for regular inspection and disinfestation. Ten were new agreements and 112
renewals. The service is free to occupiers of private dwellings.
Rodent control in the Council's sewers is carried out by the Borough Engineer's Department. Where
surface rat infestation is due to faults in the connections of the house drains with the sewer, the Borough
Engineer's Department arranges for opening the pavement.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, which came into operation on the 1st October of
that year prescribed standards for the preparation, storage and sale of clean food. There has been a marked
improvement in hygiene in the production and sale of food since the first regulations (The Food Hygiene
Regulations, 1955) came into force on 1st January, 1955.
Public Health Inspectors inspect food premises regularly and serve verbal or written notice to improve
the standards of food hygiene. Improvements in some premises are still either in progress or arrangements
are being made for them to be carried out (Tables 35 and 36).
The proprietors of five food premises were prosecuted for contraventions of the Food Hygiene
Regulations, with the following results:—
(a) 5 contraventions: 2 dismissed, 3 proved—fined £20 with £3 3s. Od. costs;
(b) 7 contraventions; all proved—fined £84 with £5 5s. Od. costs;
(c) 22 contraventions: all proved—fined £44 with £5 5s. Od. costs;
(d) 10 contraventions: all proved—granted absolute discharge in 1 and two defendants each fined £27
with £2 12s. 6d. costs;
(e) 10 contraventions: 1 dismissed, 9 proved—granted absolute discharge in 2 and fined £17 with £5 5s. Od.
costs.
Proceedings were commenced to have the occupier of a cafe disqualified from using the premises,
in accordance with the provisions of section 14 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955. Before the proceedings
could be heard, however, the occupier ceased to use them and no further action was taken.
The proprietor of a self-service store was summoned under section 105(1) of the Food and Drugs
Act, 1955, for wilfully obstructing a Public Health Inspector in the execution of his duties. He was
fined £5 with £3 3s. Od. costs.
Premises where food is prepared
Premises which manufacture or sell ice-cream or prepare or manufacture sausages, potted, pressed,
pickled or preserved foods, including cooked meat or fish intended for sale, must be registered by the Council.
If the Council refuses or cancels a registration, the owner can appeal first to them and if unsuccessful to a
court of summary jurisdiction (Table 37).
Premises where ice-cream is manufactured are kept under constant supervision. Most of the icecream
sold in the borough is manufactured outside the district, and is usually pre-packed. The ice-cream
reaches a high standard of purity (Table 9).
Education in food hygiene
Lectures and talks illustrated with film shows, filmstrips and bacteriological cultures were given to
social organisations and school leavers.
Food poisoning.
It is pleasing to report that there was no outbreak of food poisoning in the borough. This is probably
a reflection of the general improvement in handling, preparation, storage and sale of food.
Food unfit for human consumption
Nearly 1 ton, 18 cwt., 1,623 tins and 1,026 packets of food inspected by the Public Health Inspectors
were found to be unfit for human consumption (Table 38). All the food was dealt with as trade refuse by
the Borough Engineer's Department and deposited on the controlled refuse tip.
The proprietor of a self-service store was prosecuted under section 8 of the Food and Drugs Act,
1955, and given an absolute discharge, for exposing for sale nine pork and three mutton chops which were
unfit for human consumption.
Contaminated food
Fifteen specimens of contaminated food were dealt with by the department. They included foreign
matter in a bottle of milk, in a jar of beverage, and in a bread roll; cigarette end in a chocolate drink, and
in a packet of chips; mouldy growth on a malt loaf, and in a meat pie; maggots in a box of dates; paper in
baby food; glass in Frankfurter sausage; rag in corned beef; insects in egg mandles; larva in raisins; mites
in cheese; and unwholesome tripe in sauce.
No action was taken in two cases because of insufficient evidence; of the remaining 13, 10 firms
were cautioned and the Council decided to prosecute the other three. In one case, however, proceedings were
not taken because the complainant refused to give evidence.
The results of the two prosecutions were as follows:—
1. Fined £10 0s. Od. with £5 5s. Od. costs for selling chips containing cigarette end;
2. Fined £20 0s. Od. with £6 6s. Od. costs for selling a meat pie containing mould.