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the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, in relation to the
seizure of unsound food are not applicable in relation to the meat,
etc., in possession of the Crown and it is requested that if it appears
to an authorised officer of a local authority that such meat is unfit
for human consumption the facts should be brought as soon as
possible to the notice of the Government Slaughter-house Manager.
This raises the question as to the powers of the sanitary inspectors
examining the meat at the depots. In this district there has not
been the slightest suggestion of friction between the officials and,
of course, even if the inspector could not obtain the concurrence of
the manager as to the unsoundness of any meat he has his remedy
as soon as the meat passes into the possession of the retailers.
(C) OTHER FOOD.
Food Shops.
Food shops in the district are visited frequently. The
following amounts of food stuffs were condemned and voluntarily
surrendered: Fruit and vegetables, 300 lbs.; fish, 19 stone;
meat, 167 lbs.; bacon, 32 cwt.; tinned ham, 253 lbs.; chicken,
42 lbs.; and 290 eggs.
A measure aiming at the elimination of the spread of alimentary
infections by means of contaminated food stuffs is the power
given by Section 13 of the 1938 Food and Drugs Act, requiring the
provision of washing facilities in rooms in which food intended
for human consumption is prepared or stored. At bakeries, and
at those shops dealing with dairy products satisfactory arrangements
had almost always previously been made. At butchers'
shops and provision merchants' premises, however, little had
previously been done and on the coming into force of this portion
of the Act much of the time of the sanitary inspectors had been
devoted to this work, their aim being to secure the provision of a
constant supply of hot water. Before the end of the year their
requests had been complied with in most premises, though, more
particularly in some small shops where the owners have their own
household arrangements conveniently at hand, a separate supply
in connection with the shop only has not been insisted upon. It
is hoped later to be able to reach the same standard at fruiterers'
and greengrocery shops.
Food Damaged by Enemy Action.
In the latter months of the year many of the incidents resulted
in damage to food shops. These premises are visited by the
inspectors who inspect all the food and see that any damaged,
which is most commonly by impregnation by glass splinters, is
withdrawn from sale, but that all that is capable of salvage is
referred to the local food officer.