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38
14. PROVISION OF MEALS
During October and November the daily number of meals
exceeded 8,000 or some 40% of the numbers on the school roll.
During the same period the daily milk meals total averaged over
15,000 per day or some 75% of the total on the school roll.
Inspection.—Visits were made by the medical and other staff to
school canteens and kitchens, and suggestions were made from time
to time in order to try and minimise food-borne infection.
The quality of the food supplied, and the standard of cooking
has been maintained at the previous high level.
Routine inspections were carried out by the Sanitary Inspectorate.
Improvements in the arrangements for the drying of crockery
are gradually taking place, but cloth drying is still practised to a
considerable extent and will continue until such time as it is possible
to provide draining racks and adequate and modern sterilising sinks
or rinsing sinks fitted with very hot water supplies.
Additional washing facilities for scholars are very necessary
especially in view of the endemicity of bacillary dysentery.
Milk in Schools Scheme.—The arrangements detailed in the
previous reports were continued in 1953, all the milk supplied being
pasteurised milk sold under licence.
Sixteen samples of pasteurised milk were taken for bacteriological
examination during the year. All satisfied the methylene blue
and phosphatase tests.
It was not considered necessary to obtain samples for biological
examination.