View report page

31.
FOOD & DRUGS ADMINISTRATION (Contd.)
development - the standard of cleanliness can be reported as having shown
an improvement.
Public Health education plays such an important role today that its
results are instrumental in dictating the policy of proprietors of cafes.
The general public have come to expect a higher standard of service and
competition is so keen that hygiene was bound to be included in the "race".
Those establishments where standards are low leave the proprietor no
alternative, if he wishes to remain in business, but to effect such
alterations as will attract customers; this has been evident again this year
in three instances where improvements have been carried out far in excess
of anything that could be required on a Food Hygiene Regulation notice.
It is gratifying to report a noticeable decline in instances of
employees of food premises and food stalls found to be smoking whilst
handling open food. It has been necessary to issue verbal warnings in
a few border-line cases, and the police prosecuted two offenders for
committing offences, both of which occurred outside the normal hours of
duty operated by the inspectorate of the Food & Drug section.
Markets
Owing to the conditions in the street markets showing a tendency to
fall below the recognised standard of good hygiene practice, it was felt
necessary to draw the attention of food stall holders in particular, to
their obligations under certain legislation. A circular letter was delivered
to each food stall holder pointing out the need to repair certain omissions
and to endeavour to improve the standard of street trading generally to the
benefit of everybody. The correspondence was quite well received and being
followed by a communication on similar lines from their own Association, it
is hoped that improvements will materialise.