View report page

38
Richmond Clean Food Traders' Guild.
By the end of 1954 membership of the Guild remained at a total
of fifty-seven which represents a percentage of 15.04 of the total
number of food traders within the Borough and, while such a low
figure is discouraging, it compares favourably with membership of
similar Guilds operating in adjoining Boroughs.
There are many non-members of the Guild whose premises are
in good condition and would qualify for immediate membership, but
it is still very difficult to get them to make application.
The inspection of food premises generally has been curtailed
owing to staff shortage, and it is difficult to assess the extent to which
such premises may have fallen below the standards required by the
Guild and statutory Regulations.
In the main the badge of membership has been prominently
displayed to public view.
There has again been very little business for the Advisory Committee
to discuss but the prospect of changes in food legislation
during 1955 may mean changes in Guild Policy.
Ice Cream.
Premises manufacturing, storing or selling Ice Cream have been
regularly supervised, a total of 74 visits being made.
Three premises are registered for the manufacture of ice cream,
but in no case is the additional heat-treatment method approved by
the Ice Cream (Heat Treatment) Regulations, 1952, in use.
A total of 62 samples were submitted to the Bacteriologist for
examination and of this number 57 were within Grades I and II and
considered to be satisfactory, but 5 which came within Grades III and
IV were considered to be unsatisfactory.
In the case of the unsatisfactory samples careful inspection was
made of the premises, equipment and methods of storage or manufacture
and help and advice given as to the best means of effecting
improvement.
The policy with sampling is to take the greater number of
samples from premises which have produced unsatisfactory samples
in the past and to sample only occasionally those dealers who invariably
produce good results.