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33
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT - INSPECTIONS.
As reported in the Annual Report of 1947, a scheme of inspection
for all premises in the Borough, in an attempt to raise the standard
under which food is prepared, handled, stored and distributed, was put
into effect.
In July 1948 one of the Sanitary Inspectors, Mr. R. A. Bishop, was
detailed for this purpose. With regard to the necessity for this
method of inspection and control of Food Premises, it can be reasonably
claimed that the constant supervision with continuity and uniformity of
inspection has done much to prevent any serious outbreeak of food
poisoning. During the year under review, only one case was reported,
and this was believed to be due to a badly-undercooked duck egg
obtained in a cafe outside this borough.
Since July 1948, a systematic inspection of all food premises has
been carried out and the various registers are being corrected and
brought up to date. During the year one new bakehouse at ground level
was opened to replace one underground bakehouse which has now been
closed for baking. Plans are being prepared for a similar change in a
second case, and a request for repairs and alterations to one other
underground bakehouse, to make the bakehouse suitable to comply with
Section 54 of the Factories Act, 1937, was complied with.
The requirements of Section 13 of the Food and Drugs Act are being
applied to all food premises in the Borough and the provision of sinks
and hot water supplies has been enforced in approximately 200 cases. In
39 shops where it was found that the W.C. accommodation was insufficient
for the proper separation of the sexes the use of alternative
accommodation in adjoining premises has been arranged.
There are 10 ice cream manufacturers in the Borough. The processes
and premises have been regularly inspected. In addition there are
90 other premises registered for the sale and storage of ice cream and
in this connection 325 visits of inspection have been made. The
vendors obtain their ice-cream from various sources, mostly in other
districts. Enquiries were made in 25 cases as to the conditions under
which the ice-cream supplied was manfactured.
Much time has been devoted to the preliminary enquiries and supervision
of works required for the construction and equipment of new
canteens and other food premises.