View report page

The department had only very short prior notice of the creation of an open market in Uxbridge
High Street. This market included grocery, greengrocery, fish, shell-fish, sweets and refreshment
stalls. The Company operating the market and the respective stall holders were immediately told
about the facilities and standards required by the department and some of the necessary works were
in progress at the end of the year. The temporary nature of the planning consent for this market has
presented some difficulty in obtaining the required structural standards.
Proceedings were instituted in respect of contraventions of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations,
1960, found at a greengrocer's stall. The case was found to be proved following a plea of not
guilty. A fine of £5 in respect of each of five summonses was imposed and £5 5s. Od. costs awarded.
Proceedings were also instituted in respect of unsatisfactory conditions found at a bakehouse.
The premises and equipment were in a filthy condition and foodstuffs, contaminated with mouse
droppings and dirt, had to be seized and removed from the premises. Following a plea of guilty,
fines totalling £110 were imposed on the Company concerned for being in possession of food unfit
for human consumption, with further fines totalling £5, £40 and £35, respectively, for offences under
Regulations 5, 6 and 23 of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960. Costs of £31 10s. were
awarded to the Council.
Food Complaints
Investigation of complaints received from members of the public regarding food requires
extreme care and thoroughness in order to ensure that the interests of all are safeguarded. When a
complaint is justified the manufacturer or retailer is afforded an opportunity of inspecting the
offending article. If analysis is necessary to determine the nature of foreign matter, the article is sent
to the Public Analyst for examination. During the year, 12 such articles were referred in this way.
81