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The Essex County Council Act, 1952, Section 105, requires that as
from 2nd April, 1953, any person intending to use premises which were
not used immediately before that date for the sale, storage, or preparation
for sale of any food (other than milk) intended for human consumption
shall give not less than 14 days' notice to the Council of his intention so
to do.
The whole-time services of two Public Health Inspectors are utilised to
deal with food preparing premises, factory canteen premises and food and
drugs sampling. During 1957, they made 12,562 inspections of food shops
and food preparing premises. 137 informal and 20 formal notices were
served under the Food & Drugs Act, and 20 formal and 210 informal
notices were complied with including 3 formal and 104 informal notices
served prior to 1957.
(ii) Food Hygiene.
The following gives the numbers of food premises in the area by the
type of business: —
Cafés and Restaurants 111
Factory canteens 27
Butchers' shops 120
Grocers' shops 269
Fruiterers' and Greengrocers' shops 125
Fishmongers' and Fishfryers' shops 51
Bakehouses 24
Bakers' shops 42
Confectioners' shops 207
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The practice of inculcating interest in the proprietors, directors and
staffs of food handling organisations was continued in 1957. and the catering
industry, as a whole, continues to co-operate.
The lectures and demonstrations with film strips and films to food
handlers were continued in 1957.
Education in food hygiene has been extended to the senior schools and
to study groups of various local organisations.
(iii) Sampling.
The Council has delegated to the Public Health Committee power to
institute legal proceedings under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.
208 samples (201 formal and 7 informal) were obtained during the
year 1957; 2 formal and 3 informal samples were not satisfactory as
follows :—
(a) Iodised Lozenges (formal).—Almost completely devoid of
menthol and phenol. A letter of warning was sent to the retailer.
(b) Honey and Butter Sweets (formal)—.Contained only 3.6%
butter fat and therefore misdescribed as "butter." A letter of warning
was sent to the retailer.
(c) Bottle of Stout (informal).—Analysis for presence of tar acids
(phenols) following complaint. Result showed presence of 1 part of
tar acids per million parts of stout. Legal proceedings were taken
against the brewers. A plea of guilty was entered and an absolute
discharge granted on payment of £3. 7s. costs.