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69
Agreements have been reached between manufacturers and the
Association of Public Analysts about the percentage of meat content
deemed satisfactory for certain meat products. According to the code,
luncheon meat should contain at least eighty per cent of meat ; a number
of imported brands were found below this standard. The standard of
sausages sold in Middlesex continues to be satisfactory; in only one case
did the meat content of beef sausages fall below fifty per cent.
The addition of preservatives to fresh meat is prohibited. In twelve
cases preservative was found in minced beef, in three other cases on joints
of beef and in a further case of steak and kidney. Fines were imposed as a
result of prosecutions undertaken in respect of these offences.
Of the 1,017 samples examined in the department, fifty-nine were
found to be incorrect. Much of this work is to check the passing-off of one
variety of food for another to the prejudice of the purchaser.
None of the 348 samples of milk tested for the presence of the tubercle
bacillus was found to be infected. This is the second successive year that
all samples have been found free from infection.
Regular visits were carried out at the twenty-four premises licensed
for the pasteurising of milk and at the three licensed for the sterilising of
milk to ensure that adequate precautions were taken against contamination,
that the processing plant and arrangements were satisfactory and
that proper records were kept. 1,301 samples were taken to ascertain
whether the plant was operating successfully : in only one instance was it
necessary to caution a trader for milk that failed the phosphatase test for
adequate heat treatment. In addition to the regular sampling of milk,
special attention is paid to the milk bottles. Regular samples are taken
immediately the bottles have been washed and sterilised by the cleansing
plant. Very few bottles were found to be unsatisfactory and these were
due to faults which were easily remedied.
(E) HYGIENE OF FOOD
Food Hygiene Regulations, 1960. The Food Hygiene Advisory
council has on many occasions expressed concern at the lack of adequate
control over the condition of the vehicles used for conveying foodstuffs,
especially meat. It was understood that the question of framing regulations
which would ensure better control was under consideration. The Food
Hygiene (Docks, Carriers, etc.) Regulations, 1960 which came into
operation on November 1st prescribe requirements to secure the hygienic
handling of food at docks, warehouses, cold stores, carriers premises and
a number of other special depots or premises which were excluded from
the ambit of the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955. They require that
P aces, vessels and vehicles used for the reception or movement of food are
made available in a cleanly condition and as far as practicable, are kept in
at condition by the persons using them. There are no premises in this
district to which these Regulations refer, but they are of interest as
indicating a further step in raising the standards of handling of food.