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128
Instant Welsh Rarebit. Contained an excessive proportion of rusk,
namely 26% Retailer confirmed that sample was old stock and arranged
for destruction of the remainder.
Marzipan, Sample contained preservative 'sorbic acid' but the nature
of the preservative was not declared on the label. Manufacturers agreed
to amend the list of ingredients on the label.
OTHER FOODS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF
COMPLAINT.
A total of 99 complaints about articles of food were received during
the year, all were thoroughly investigated and appropriate action was
taken. A considerable proportion concerned bread and the two main
troubles were contamination with lubricants from baking machinery and
mould growth. There tends to be an increase in the wrapping of bread at
the bakery, and whilst this is to be commended from the point of view of
hygiene, if wrapped before being adequately cooled, mould is inclined to
develop, particularly in warm weather.
Failure to manage effective stock rotation has resulted in foodstuff
being sold out of condition on occasion. Not all complaints are justified
although they may well be in good faith, A worm alleged to have emerged
from a can of salmon was found to be an earth worn which had not been
subjected to heat and therefore could not have been in the can during
processing and was presumed to have come from lettuce which was in the
kitchen of the complainant.
The following were considered to be sufficiently serious to
necessitate report to the Health and Welfare Committee for their instructions:-
Foreign Matter in Sliced Loaf.
A resident found metal and brown material in a loaf purchased from
a shop in the Borough, The foreign matter was identified as an aluminium
rivet, brass washer and piece of leather, which were presumed to have come
from a conveyer belt in the bakery. The matter was considered with the
manufacturers and the Council decided to institute legal proceedings. At
the hearing the defendants pleaded guilty to the offence under Section 2
of the Food & Drugs Act, 1955, and were fined £25,0,0d, and ordered to
pay costs of £3,3.0d.