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so much or an unco-operative attitude is displayed that
these are reported to the committee for authority to
institute legal proceedings. In respect of premises, 4 cases
were heard by the courts during the year resulting in fines
and costs totalling £1,455.00 (last year 11 cases resulted in
fines of £430.75).
The premises in the borough where food is stored,
handled or from where it is sold are detailed below. During
the year the inspectorate paid a total of
1956 visits to these premises to seek compliance with the
food hygiene requirements and to give advice on such
matters.
Butchers 110
Bakehouses 10
Cafes, Canteens, Clubs 496
Fish shops 37
Greengrocers 144
Grovery and provisions 186
Supermarkets 33
Hotels and public houses 159
Off licences 58
Food manufacturers 37
Confectioners (sweet) 239
Confectioners (flour) 43
Chemists 61
School canteens 60
It is to be hoped that consideration will be given by the
government to require some form of prior approval from
the local authority before new food premises are brought
into use. So many times the public health inspectors find
new premises with inherent defects already constructed
and in operation.
Food hygiene education
Although fewer cases have been taken before the courts
compared with the previous year I am conscious that the
major step towards better food hygiene is via education. By
discussion with the major food preparing and retailing
companies in the area standards are being agreed and
programmes of improvement are in hand. For instance, with
the growth in the sale of food and meals in public houses
the existing facilities, usually the domestic kitchen, become
inadequate and unsuitable for the volume of trade.
Discussions have taken place with all of the brewers
concerned and new commercial and separate kitchens are
being provided at all such premises. Whilst discussion of
this kind has created an understanding at management
levels we have yet to overcome the lack of understanding
displayed by so many of the actual food handlers.
There is a need felt by private industry and within the
catering units of the council to provide a food hygiene
educationalist who could spend time directing attention
to the actual food handlers and cleaning staffs of such
establishment of such a position. Talks have been given by
the public health inspectors to groups of food handlers
with the aid of a new film purchased by the department
but scope exists for so many more. Hygiene education must
be given its rightful importance and emphasis.
Market stalls and delivery vehicles
The problem associated with delivery vehicles and itinerant
traders are many, inadequate controls exist to limit persons
from starting to trade with vehicles, a number of which are
found to be unsuitable. Certain traders have to be
registered with this authority under the provisions of
Section 11 Middlesex County Council Act 1950 and 63
are so registered. During the year we have written to them
all enquiring whether they are still trading and requesting
that the vehiles are brought to the Health Centre for
inspection.
39 have indicated that they are still trading and
inspection of these vehicles was carried out.
Four persons contravening the provisions of the Food
Hygiene (Markets, Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations,
1966 were taken before the courts and fines and costs
totalling £170.50 were imposed.
Meat and poultry inspection
There are no slaughterhouses or poultry processing
establishments within the borough.
Unsound food

The power of the public health inspector to seize food
was exercised on 5 occasions.
Consumer complaints
The trend noted last year in the increase of public
awareness regarding consumer protection continued.
Complaints rose 9% to 181 which in my opinion is not an
indication of a deterioration in food quality but a reaction
on the part of the buying public not to accept second best.
Analysis of the complaints reveals no reduction in the
number of complaints concerning foreign bodies or mould
and of the 30 cases taken before the courts 20 were for this
reason.
Prosecutions resulted in fines and costs totalling
£1,377 being levied by the courts and a further 23 cases
were awaiting hearing dates at the time of writing this
report.
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