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10
DISINFESTATION
The Public Health Inspectors inspect verminous premises and supervise the work of disinfectors employed
by the Council (section 83 of the Public Health Act, 1936) (Table 32). There was an increase in the
work compared with the previous year.
The Council provide transport for clothing and bedding requiring disinfection and disinfestation at
the Neasden Hospital (section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936). The Council's attendant disinfects and
disinfests rooms, and collects and delivers the clothing and bedding.

The cost of disinfestation at business premises is recovered from the occupiers; 114 had an annual
agreement with the Council for regular inspection and disinfestation. Fourteen were new agreements and 100
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, 1956.
Public Health Inspectors inspect food premises (Table 33) 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 34 and 35).
The proprietors of three food premises were prosecuted for contraventions of the Food Hygiene
Regulations, with the following results:—
(a) Six contraventions: All proved—fined £18 0s. 0d. with £5 5s. 0d. costs.
(b) Ten contraventions: one dismissed, nine proved—fined £9 0s. 0d. with £5 5s. 0d. costs.
(c) Twenty-two contraventions: All proved—fined £22 0s. 0d. with £5 5s. 0d. 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. One application for the manufacture, storage and sale of soft ice-cream was
refused as facilities for the sterilisation of equipment were inadequate. The applicant did not appeal (Table
36).
Premises where ice-cream is manufactured are kept under close supervision. Most of the ice-cream
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 illustrated with film shows, filmstrips and bacteriological cultures were given to 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 great improvement in handling, preparation, storage and sale of food. There was a slight
increase in the number of individual cases of food poisoning notified.
Food unfit for human consumption
One cwt., 4 stone of meat, and 2 stone of fish inspected by the Public Health Inspectors was found
tc be unfit for human consumption. All the food was dealt with as trade refuse by the Borough Engineer's
Department and deposited on the controlled refuse tip.