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It will be seen from the above table that of the 19,024 cattle (excluding cows)
inspected, 11.8 per cent. (Tuberculosis) and 27.1 per cent. (other diseases) were
found to be diseased. However, only 78 whole carcases, or 0.4 per cent. of the
total number of cattle (other than cows) inspected had to be condemned. Of the
19,200 sheep and lamps slaughtered, only 10 whole carcases were condemned.
Dogs in Food Shops.
During 1951 the Ministry of Food asked local authorities to consider issuing
a notice under the name of the Medical Officer of Health for display in food premises,
pointing out that in the interests of food hygiene customers should be requested not
to take their dogs into premises where food is sold. The Health Committee felt
that local traders would support the display of such notices and a supply of 300
notices has been obtained for distribution to local food shops. At the time of
writing over 200 of these notices have been distributed.
Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.
Slaughterhouses are subject to annual licensing and there are now only two
licensed slaughterhouses in the Borough, one of which is not being used at the
present time. Two new licences were granted to persons working in the Borough
to act as slaughtermen, and 16 applications for renewal of existing slaughtermen's
licences were approved.
New legislation amending the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933, came into
operation on the 1st October, 1951, making it an obligation to water and feed animals
in slaughterhouses and in knackers' yards and whilst in lairages awaiting slaughter.
Unsound Food.
The Council's food inspectors are required to examine food suspected of being
unsound and if considered unfit for human consumption the food is surrendered and
a certificate of condemnation issued.
Once again a large number of such certificates was issued during the year.
Whilst no food was seized and formally condemned during the year, some 41,716
articles of food, weighing approximately 170 tons, were surrendered as unfit for
human consumption. The majority of these articles, weighing approximately 150
tons, were from the large abattoir in the Borough. The food was utilised for animal
feeding or for fertilisers.
Ice Cream.
The number of ice cream premises registered in the Borough at the end of the
year was 296, of which 19 were for manufacture. Most of the dealers sold only
prepacked ice cream. Periodical visits were made to all premises and inspection
of all new premises was carried out before registration was approved, to ensure
that they were satisfactory and that the requirements relating to heat treatment
were fully understood.
During the year, 53 samples were submitted for grading by the methylene
blue test and the results were satisfactory, 40 samples being graded in Grade 1,
six in Grade 2, six in Grade 3 and only one in Grade 4. In addition, 37 samples
were submitted for chemical analysis and the fat content of the samples was as
follows:—
Over 20 per cent. fat nil
15-20 per cent. fat 1
10-15 per cent. fat 12
5-10 per cent. fat 24
Under 5 per cent. fat nil
The average fat content of the samples was 9.4 per cent., which was slightly
higher than last year (9.1 per cent.).
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