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Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, were complied with. 1,352 separate displays of meat,
apples, tomatoes, poultry, dried fruit, and butter were examined. Verbal cautions were
given in respect of minor infringements not being found so serious as to warrant more
stringent action. In one case, proceedings were taken against a greengrocer for displaying
Dutch tomatoes marked " English," a mixture of Dutch and English tomatoes similarly
marked, and Dutch tomatoes not marked with the indication of origin. He was fined £3
and ordered to pay £3 3s. od. costs.
Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations, 1943. One greengrocer had a display of Australian
Packham Pears falsely described as " Selected Williams." Proceedings were authorised
and a fine of £1 was imposed. No costs were awarded.
The Labelling of Food Order, 1953. This Order requires that in general pre-packed
foods shall bear on the label a clear statement of the designation of the food and, in the
case of compound foods, the ingredients. It also requires that the name and address of
the packer or labeller appears. At 16 premises, 54 articles of pre-packed food were examined.
No proceedings were taken but in respect of infringements found, see paragraph " False
or Misleading Descriptions " below.
False or Misleading Descriptions. In addition to the foregoing activities which arise
specifically from inspections in this area, a considerable amount of work has been done,
for the benefit of all districts of Middlesex equally, in scrutinising advertisements and the
labels of pre-packed foods and correcting false or misleading descriptions or errors in
statement of composition found therein. Corrective action during the year in question
includes biscuits, confectionery, spirits, sausages in brine, cereals, fruit squashes, margarine,
ginger wine, imitation cream, liver puree, iced lollies, cheese spreads, tinned fruit and
vegetables.
Special Designated Milk. During the year, two licences were issued by Middlesex
County Council in respect of the use of the special designation " pasteurised " for milk
processed within the Borough of Southall. Each premise was inspected regularly and
compliance with the requirements of the Act or Regulations was maintained in each case.
102 samples were taken, all of which were correct.
Safe Milk. In addition to the foregoing, 17 samples of raw milk were procured within
the Borough and submitted to test for the presence of tubercle bacilli. None was found
contaminated.
Meat Inspections
There is a slaughterhouse at St. Bernard's Hospital, formerly under the control of
London County Council. With rare exceptions, only pigs are slaughtered to meet the
needs of the institution. During 1955, only 17 lbs. of meat were surrendered as being
affected by diseases other than tuberculosis or cysticerci. There is no registered slaughterhouse
or public abbattoir in the district.
Markets
There is a livestock market held once weekly (Wednesday). In April, 1955, a general
market (Saturday) was commenced. This comprises a mobile canteen, two mobile butchers,
three stalls of packaged foodstuffs, four greengrocery stalls, one stall for the sale of sweets
and other stalls of general merchandise. The private management of the market provided
a newly constructed building containing male and female water closets, wash basins with
hot water. Further plans were pending for the proper paving and drainage of the market
area. In 1955, a new steel structure covered a good section of the market. Inspections
are made morning and afternoon each Saturday, and it was necessary on only one occasion
to accept surrender for foodstuff; the stall was discontinued.
Food Premises—Inspection
Food premises, including the large food factories where meat and other foods are prepared
for sale, are regularly inspected and the figures of food surrendered are in the appended
table.
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