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above-mentioned articles of food were found by the Food Inspectors to be genuine.
In the other cases, those responsible for the preparation of the unsound food were
warned, where necessary, there being insufficient evidence to support a prosecution,
and suggestions for improvements in the preparation and handling of the food
concerned were made.
The Public Health Laboratory Service at the Park Hospital, Hither Green,
carried out laboratory examinations of samples of unsound food.
Byelaws for the Protection of Food
During the year, the London County Council made revised Byelaws under
Section 15 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, for securing the observance of sanitary
and cleanly conditions and practices in connection with the handling, wrapping
and delivery of food sold or intended for sale, for human consumption.
The Byelaws were confirmed by the Minister of Food in October, 1952, and
came into force on the 3rd November. They repealed the Byelaws made by the
County Council under Section 6 of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1932. The new Byelaws strengthen the law by being more specific, particularly
on the following points:—
(a) No person suffering from any disease shall handle, wrap or deliver
food so as to give rise to the risk of the spread of disease;
(b) All food shall be protected from dirt, dust, insects and other forms
of contamination, both in handling and transport;
(c) No food shall be wrapped so as to be in contact with newsprint,
including periodicals, magazines, etc.;
(d) All reasonable precautions shall be taken where food is displayed
for sale, both indoors and in the open air, to ensure that food is
displayed on clean counters, trays, fittings, etc.
Ice Cream
There were 257 registered ice cream premises in the Borough at the end of
the year, of which 15 were used for the manufacture of ice cream. Most of the
dealers sell only prepacked ice cream. Periodic visits are made to all premises
and inspection of all new premises is carried out before registration is approved to
ensure that they are satisfactory and that the requirements relating to heat treatment
are fully understood. Defects at 37 premises were found and remedied during 1952.
During the year, 83 samples of ice cream were submitted for grading by the
methylene blue test, and the results were as follows:—
Grade I 58
Grade II 23
Grade III 2
Grade IV —
In addition, three samples were submitted for chemical analysis and fat content,
and the results were as follows:—
10—15 per cent. fat 1
5—10 per cent. fat 2
Under 5 per cent. fat —
Meat Inspection
Slaughtering has continued on a large scale at the Plumstead Abattoir. A
total of 90,002 carcases were examined during the year, this number approaching
twice the number of the previous year. Even after allowing for the fact that two
pigs can be inspected in the time needed for the examination of one cow or heifer,
this represents a considerable increase in the work of inspection carried out at
the abattoir. All the carcases were inspected immediately after slaughter, examinations
being conducted in accordance with Ministry of Food Memorandum 3/Meat.
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