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The Hygienic Food Traders' Guild, operated in conjunction
with the Waltham Holy Cross Urban District Council, increased
its membership from 54 to 66 during the year, and arrangements
were put in hand for a course of lecture demonstrations to
employers and employees of all food handling establishments
in the Districts. (These took place, with very successful attendances,
early in 1953).
The general standard of cleanliness and hygiene in local
food shops still leaves much to be desired. Twenty-seven complaints
of contamination were received including gross and
obvious contaminants such as insects (4 cases), pieces of glass
(3 cases) ,a safety pin, a cigarette end, a nail and a paper label.
It is not always clear how, when and where these things get
into the food, and in the absence of clear evidence, which the
informant is willing to give in Court, prosecution is unlikely to
be successful. It was, however, possible to bring a case to Court
under the Clean Food Bye-Laws, and a fine of three guineas was
imposed on each of the two defendants. The Council recently
(1953) resolved to prosecute in every case where evidence of
contravention of the Clean Food Bye-Laws was available, and
all Food Traders have been individually warned that this will
te the Council's future policy.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948 (SECTION 47) and
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951.
Nine persons "in need of care and attention" were under
observation for possible action under Section 47.
Two of these were eventually compulsorily removed to hospital
under the above Acts; three were admitted as voluntary
patients and four remain at home under continued observation.
In conclusion, I would again like to record my appreciation to
the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee
for their support and to the staff of the Public Health Department
for their help and co-operation during the year. For the
statistical information which the Area Health and Divisional
Educational Departments of the County Council have provided
for this report, grateful acknowledgements are also made.
H. FRANKS, M.B., B.S., B.Hy., D.P.H.,
June, 1953. Medical Officer of Health.
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