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27.
FOOD & DRUGS ADMINISTRATION
INTRODUCTION
'Change' has become an accepted feature of our every day life, and has
inevitably made itself evident in our food and eating habits.
The main policy employed for the past few years by the Staff of the
Food & Drugs Section has been to instil into food handlers the need to adopt
every effort to avoid the introduction of dirt of any kind into our food
supplies as it could be the means of transmitting disease-carrying microorganisms,
certain strains of which are known to be heat resistant, to those
commodities which the ordinary person believes to be rendered harmless by
cooking.
Now, as a result of 'change' we are confronted with an additional
approach to the problem of safeguarding the food supplies. The pointer has
moved again in the direction of the manufacturer, in that 'additions' are
being made to commodities in the form of emulsifiers, stabilisers,
antioxidants etc. Whilst no doubt serving a useful purpose they do nevertheless
change the composition of the food. To advertise the commodity as
being easier to spread does not necessarily mean that it will
be anymore wholesome because of it.
One of the important factors in relation to the protection of food
supplies is that which is afforded by the administration of those sections
of legislation governing food, intelligently applied in the correct
perspective; this factor is also applicable in relation to drugs.
The implementation of requirements under the Food & Drugs Act has taken
on a somewhat different interpretation 'not of the nature, substance or
quality demanded ' is still one of the most appropriate phrases in
connection with food and the Section of the Act in which it appears is the
most adaptable. Whilst there have been instances reported during the year
which could be classified under this heading, no major issue involving legal
action has materialised.
The growth of 'change' has extended to involve the taste for continental
dishes necessitating the importation of a variety of foods which demand a
watchful eye being kept on certain commodities not only for fitness for human
consumption but also conformity to our required legislative standards.
Co-operation with importing companies has been on the best of relations
and where, following examination, certain commodities have been found not to
conform to required standards, specific treatment has been advised, and on
one occasion re-exportation recommended and acted upon.
Local authorities are responsible for the administration of certain
legislation in connection with drugs and it would be very remiss not to
mention 'DRUGS' when alluding to 'change'.
One of the objects of sampling in this field is to be able to arrive at
certain conclusions relative to the strength and purity of the
drug. The control of the concoctions that are available over the chemists