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67
still matters of concern. Nevertheless progress continues to be made and
this in spite of the staff shortages and the many other problems that
are experienced by food traders.
Complaints.
There was a slight fall in the quantities of food stuff found unfit and
destroyed by the Department during the year, whilst the complaints about
unsound food stuff or of the presence of foreign matter fell from 54 for
1962 to 39.
Of these 39, 19 were about bread or bakehouse confectionery, eight
about meat products, nine about tinned or packeted foods. The other three
involved beverages and fruit.
The investigating of complaints about food stuff is time absorbing
but often rewarding in that it enables action to be taken to prevent a
repetition. As a result of a complaint, the existence of old stock is sometimes
found, and in consequence removed from sale, and enquiries often
result in the traders introducing improved methods of stock rotation.
Of the complaints received statutory action was taken in respect of three
which involved foreign matter being found in bread.
OPEN AIR TRADING
The Middlesex County Council Act, 1950, requires that a person
retailing food from a cart, barrow or other vehicle, shall be registered
with the Local Authority and that the storage premises used by him shall
also be registered.
The number registered at the end of the year was 69. Most of the
hawkers who are registered retail greengrocery on established rounds and
their supervision presents little difficulty. Problems sometimes arise with
the trader who commences trading without applying for registration, and
one of the difficulties he is likely to encounter is the finding of suitable
storage accommodation in areas zoned for business purposes under
own Planning. This particular difficulty is a very real one and the day
not be far distant when Local Authorities will undertake the provision
of properly equipped centres for these traders. Such centres would
facilitate the maintenance of standards of hygiene and with accommodation
provided in relation to the size of the area served, it would
help to limit the number operating in a particular district.
As with shops the standard of the mobile unit has risen, but even sot
there are problems with open air trading. Examples of open air trading are
to be seen annually at Pinner Fair, where during 1963 between 40 and 50
nicies or stalls were to be found retailing food stuff in one form or
another.