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11
Housing. The total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects
under the Public Health or Housing Acts was 2,330, and the number found not to
be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation was 942. The number rendered
fit in consequence of informal action by the sanitary inspectors, including the service
of intimation notices, was 714. Statutory notices were served in respect of 228
houses.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Milk. The number of milk premises on the register on the 31st December,
was 58, and the number of visits paid to them was 157. The standard of the milk
supply in Woolwich was satisfactory in view of war-time difficulties.
Two pasteurisers' licences, 7 dealers' licences and 9 supplementary licences
were issued under the provisions of the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations
for the sale of pasteurised milk, and 10 dealers' and 8 supplementary licences were
issued for the sale of tuberculin tested milk.
Meat Supplies. Owing to regional slaughtering, all slaughterhouses in the
Borough remained closed, with the exception of one used occasionally under licence
from the Ministry of Food. The number of animals slaughtered and inspected at
this one slaughterhouse was 104.
Premises where Food is Prepared or offered for Sale. All such premises,
including those registered under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act,
1936, were kept under frequent observation. The number of inspections carried out
during the year was 1,575. The total weight of food certified as unfit for human
consumption was 9 tons, 13 cwts. Very little of this food was destroyed, most
of it being used for animal feeding.
Analysis of Food and Drugs. During the year, 772 samples, including
695 informal and 77 formal ones, were submitted to the public analyst. 25 of them,
three of which were formal, were reported to be adulterated, giving a percentage
adulteration of 3.2, compared with 3.8 in 1943. Appropriate action was taken in
each case of adulteration.
War Damage to Food Premises. In the early months of 1944 only a small
quantity of food was damaged as a result of enemy action, but during June, July
and August, while Woolwich was being subjected to concentrated attacks by
" flying " bombs, more than 400 food premises were damaged in varying degrees,
necessitating the examination of many tons of food of all kinds by the Food Inspectors,
and resulting in the condemnation of about 7f tons of rationed and unrationed
goods. In addition, many hundreds of tons of foodstuffs were damaged in local
warehouses. The co-operation of the Salvage Division of the Ministry of Food was
obtained in order to effect disposal of, and find a market for, the large quantities
of damaged and undamaged food involved.