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77
The campaign for clean food in this last year followed on much the
same lines as that in the previous year. The Public Health Inspectors
continued to devote special attention to the premises at which food is
dealt with and to the techniques of those engaged in the work at these
places. The educational side of this campaign has expanded, talks being
given this last year to many local organisations, and at schools.
Food Hygiene Regulations, 1957. These Regulations amend
Section 7 of the 1955 Regulations which restrict the giving out of food
for preparation or packing in domestic premises. The operation of the
original Regulation 7 in relation to shrimps, prawns and onions has been
postponed. The new regulation permits the giving out of shrimps, prawns
and onions for peeling on domestic premises, if the premises are registered
for the preparation of food by the local authority under Section 16 of the
Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and certain other requirements are complied
with.
Health Education. Starting primarily as the educative side of the
Clean Food Campaign, each year has seen a steady development of these
activities and a widening of the range of subjects on which talks are given
or demonstrations based. From the beginning of the Clean Food
Campaign, the Council has had the help of the Food Hygiene Advisory
Council. It is felt that this help was especially valuable in establishing
good relations with the traders, more particularly before the additional
powers granted by the Food Hygiene Regulations were available. Because
its members come from such a variety of organisations, the views of the
Committee are particularly helpful about such matters as methods of
approach to bodies or on publicity. On the other hand, one of the early
features of the campaign—the certificate issued to the traders—has
probably ceased to be really useful. It had been hoped that all who were
eligible would apply for this certificate, and that those whose standards
were not sufficiently high to warrant their receiving it would improve their
premises or raise their standards of work so as to qualify. As never more
than about one third applied, this object has not been achieved, and,
especially in view of the strengthened statutory powers in regard to
standards, they have probably outlived their usefulness. This function of
the Advisory Council, then, has virtually ceased. Then, too, the campaign,
as something on which special attention is being focussed, has really come
to an end, because all the activities arising out of it have become part of
the routine of the establishment. This diminution in the functions of the
Committee occurring at the same time as there were other activities of
the Public Health Committee about which the public needed to be
informed led to the question being raised of whether the scope of the
Food Hygiene Advisory Council should not be widened so that, while
continuing to be interested in the question of clean food, it would embrace
other subjects. One it was felt was particularly appropriate was the
campaign for clean air, as the first steps to implement the provisions of
the Clean Air Act must be the advising of the public of what is involved,
how it is in the interests both of their health and of their pockets, and
exactly what part each person and particularly the householder has to
Play in the matter. Another subject to which increasing attention is being