View report page

of Food Order 1953. It was ascertained that action had already been
taken in respect of a similar sample by the Sampling Officer of another
Local Authority. As a result of correspondence with him it was found
that the manufacturers had already made arrangements to re-label the
product. No further action, therefore, was taken in the matter.
Sandwich spread.
This formal sample consisted of a jar of sandwich spread which the
Public Analyst reported upon as being "Stale and rancid through long
storage and is now unfit for human consumption." Upon receipt of
this report the remaining stock of this food (12 jars) was examined at
the place of purchase, and was voluntarily surrendered for destruction.
Desiccated coconut.
As the result of a complaint, a box of desiccated coconut deposited
in a bakehouse store-room was examined, and it was found to contain
small dark objects. Specimens were submitted to the Public Analyst
who expressed the opinion that the objects did in fact consist of rodent
excreta. The box of desiccated coconut (100 lbs.) was surrendered for
destruction, and rodent treatment work was carried out upon the
premises.
Steak and kidney pudding.
An opened tin of steak and kidney pudding was submitted to the
Senior Public Health Inspector for examination by a resident of the
Borough. Embedded in the contents of the tin was a used cigarette
end. The cigarette paper was intact and one end was stained with a
red substance resembling lipstick. The complaint alleged that the
cigarette end was found in the tin when it was opened. The tin and its
contents were submitted to the Public Analyst, and his report confirmed
the presence of the cigarette end. As a result of discussions with the
Public Analyst and with the manufacturers of the pudding, experiments
were carried out in an endeavour to prove whether or not both cigarettes
and lipstick could in fact survive the normal production procedure.
The Health Committee considered reports upon the action which had
been taken, and resolved that a warning letter be sent to the manufacturers
concerned.
White bread.
As the result of a complaint a portion of a loaf of white bread
containing foreign matter was submitted to the Public Analyst for
examination. It was found that the foreign matter consisted of a piece
of white fabric of irregular shape folded several times throughout the
bread. There was no evidence that the fabric had been in a dirty condition
or was contaminated, and it was suggested that it could have
been torn from an overall or possibly from a dough cloth. The Health
Committee resolved that a warning letter be sent to the Baker concerned.
Legal Proceedings.
(a) A retailer was summoned under the provisions of the Food
and Drugs Act 1955 for selling a pork pie which was not of the quality
31