London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hillingdon 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
This page requires JavaScript
Seven prosecutions were taken for hygiene offences, five being in respect of contraventions of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations and two for contraventions of the Food Hygiene (Market Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations. Prosecutions concerning food hygiene contraventions found at two restaurants and a bakers shop are due for hearing in 1973. Details of the prosecutions taken are summarised below:
| Statute | Nature of Business/ Occupation of Defendant | Fine Et Costs | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 | Butchers | £50 | Food hygiene offences |
| Grocer | £80 | do. | |
| Take away food shop | £75 | do. | |
| Restaurant proprietor | £20 | Hygiene offences | |
| Restaurant proprietor | £15 | do. | |
| Food Hygiene (Market Stalls Delivery Vehicles) Regulations 1966 | Food Hawker | £5 | do. |
Fruit puddings contaminated by mouse droppings found in a dry goods store room of a
restaurant where other mouse droppings were present resulted in a prosecution being taken against
the proprietor. The charges, which were brought under the Food and Drugs Act 1955 and the Food
Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 were dismissed but no costs were awarded against the Council.
An appeal is pending. Unfit food found in another restaurant resulted in the proprietor being fined
£60 with £10 costs.
FOOD HYGIENE
The standards of cleanliness in relation to the handling and preparation of food for human
consumption vary considerably and at most premises difficulties are experienced in consistently
maintaining the high standards which are so essential. Cleaning is a task which is not very popular,
cleaning operations are frequently not planned to a schedule and when they are insufficient supervision
is given with the consequence that even the conscientious worker is encouraged to skimp
his task. Dirt accummulations due to neglected cleaning are the most frequent contraventions found.
To offset this difficulty very close attention is given to all proposals for new food premises,
alterations etc., which are received by the Director of Planning and made available to this department.
Such proposals are assessed for compliance with the various regulations and particular attention
is given to avoiding any possible contraventions of the Food Hygiene Regulations. In addition
to examination of the plans for compliance with the Regulations, recommendations are made
concerning adequate working space required, working surfaces, types of finishes and the siting of
equipment so as to allow for easy cleaning with the minimum of labour. Premises are also visited
during the construction stages and further advice on hygiene and associated public health requirements
are given. This procedure has been found particularly valuable in the case of the numerous
large hotels and other food businesses at present under construction in the Borough.
74