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49
With regard to the remainder of the complaints concerning food,
ten related to instances where foods were sold out of condition
because they had been retained in stock too long. One cannot lay too
much stress upon the need for care in proper stock rotation,, In the
absence of legible coding by the manufacturers, there is no reason
why retailers should not establish their own system of marking goods
to ensure that they are sold in the order in which they are received,
or withdrawn from stock when the shelf life of the product has
expired.
During the year there were four instances of insects in food and
five cases of minor foreign bodies. Only one complaint referred to
a dirty milk bottle.
Whilst every case of food contamination must be regarded as
serious, the number of complaints are few in relation to the very
large amount of food which passes through the shops in the town.
Consideration must also be given to the number of transactions involved
and the persons concerned in processing, packing and handling the food.
Pood traders and manufacturers are very sensitive to complaints and the
trade in general co-operate fully in an effort to avoid any cause for
repetition.
MERCHANDISE MARKS ACT, 1926.
Regular and frequent inspections were made during the year with
regard to the labelling and display of appropriate notices, in compliance
with the Orders made under the above Act in respect of certain foodsmainly
imported apples and tomatoes.
Three warning notices were given, but it was not considered necessary
to take any legal enforcement action.