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During the year there were numerous proposals and enquiries concerning the establishment
of "take-away" Chinese food shops. The use of premises for this purpose comes within the
requirements of section 16, Food and Drugs Act, 1955, registration by the Council being necessary.
The proposers were apparently prepared to set up business in the most unsuitable of locations
and in several instances the proposals were abandoned as the premises could not be adapted to
the required standard. Legal proceedings were taken against the proprietor of one such business
for opening on unregistered premises. A fine of £10 with £10-50 costs were imposed. The premises
had been suitably altered by the date of the hearing and registration was subsequently granted
by the Council.
Bacteriological Examination
The laboratory examination of samples is an essential part of food hygiene control. Such
examinations not only ensure that any statutory standards are complied with, e.g. those for ice
cream and milk, but also indicate whether the food has been correctly prepared and hygienically
handled. By this means practices are revealed which might not have been apparent during routine
visits. The routine examination of foods for statutory tests by the Public Health Laboratory Service
is supplemented by bacteriological assays carried out by the Food Hygiene Laboratory, Colindale.
During the year 56 such examinations were made, of which 13 were unsatisfactory and 7 suspicious.
The foods submitted for this type of examination are cooked meats and foods containing fresh
and synthetic cream which are particularly favourable to bacterial multiplication. High bacterial
counts indicate the need for more thorough investigation of the practices employed and such
results are most carefully followed up. Examinations by the Food Hygiene laboratory were supplemented
by examinations carried out in the Department's own laboratory.
Legal Proceedings
Reliance on legislation alone cannot ensure safe food. The statutory provisions do, however,
set a minimum standard and provide an effective deterrent against persistent defaulters. Six
prosecutions were taken for contraventions of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960,
and three for contraventions of the Food Hygiene (Markets Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations,
1966. These prosecutions are summarised in the following table:
These prosecutions are summarised in the following table:

At the time of writing one prosecution for a breach of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations,
1960 is awaiting a hearing.
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