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SECTION E. FOOD AND DRUGS
In January, 1956, the Food and Drugs Act, 1955 came into effect
and with it a considerable portion of the Food Hygiene Regulations,
1955. The latter created much work in the Department by
inspections of food premises to ascertain whether or not the
standards set by the Regulations were complied with.
Further, after July 1st, reports had to be made to the Public
Health Committee in connection with applications for exemption
from providing such things as wash hand basins, sinks, clothing
cupboards, etc. In all some 17 applications were considered, three
were deferred and the remaining 14 refused.
Some difficulties were met in the administration of these new
Regulations, the worst being the interpretation of the meaning of
wash hand basin. Some people consider that a bowl can be
interpreted as a wash hand basin; others that it is a fixed basin with
trapped waste. The Council referred this matter to the Association
of Municipal Corporations with a view to getting the term clarified.
Proceedings were authorised against a greengrocer for offences
against Regulations 14(l)(a); 14 (5); 16(1); 16(2); 16(3); 17;20;23 and
24. The result of action in this case must be held over until the
report for 1957.
Reports were made in regard to the following:
(1) glass in a loaf; (2) nail in bread; (3) mould in a jar of raspberry
jam; (4) deficiency of fat in beef suet and (5) deficiency of fat in hot
milk.
Successful proceedings can be recorded in regard to items Nos. 1
and 2 above. Proceedings were unsuccessful in case 5 and although
the Council did decide to appeal against the decision of the Court
it was finally resolved not to take action in the High Court. It was
felt that justice would be done in cases 3 and 4 by communicating
with the vendor and the manufacturer.
Hawkers of Food
Under Section 103 of the Essex County Council Act, 1952, two
vendors were registered for the sale of (a) ice cream and (b) hot
dogs respectively.
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