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FOOD CONTROL
Routine work on the improvement of hygienic conditions and of methods of
food handling continued throughout the year. There is no doubt that year by
year a great improvement can be seen in shops and catering establishments in
the methods of display of food for sale, and the limitation of handling. The
general public is becoming more sensitive to these matters and when trade is
seen to come from the less hygienic to the more hygienic establishment, this
is a much more powerful incentive to the trader than all the propaganda which
this Department can put over. Word of mouth recommendation is still the best
publicity and recently I have overheard customers in shops explaining to others
that the reason they used such and such a store was because "everything is kept
covered" or "the girls look so clean there". This is an interesting new development
since formerly quality of goods, price or civility of staff were the usual
reasons given for preference of one shop to another.
Although there are plenty of food premises which still need much visiting
and attention, many of the local traders go far beyond the requirements of the
Pood and Drugs Act in their sanitary provisions.
Mobile traders are required to provide themselves with suitable washing
facilities under the Pood and Drugs Act, 1955, and their vehicles require to
be checked from time to time.
NUMBER AND TYPE OF FOOD PREMISES IN THE BOROUGH
Bakers and Confectioners 17
Butchers 41
Club Canteens 16
Confectioners (Sweets) 100
Cafes, Restaurants, Dining Rooms and Snack Bars 71
Factory and Staff Canteens 51
Fishmongers 14
Greengrocers and Fruiterers 54
Grocers and Provisions and General Stores 117
Ice Cream Manufacturers 3
Public Houses and Off Licences 78
School Canteens 18
Total 580
ICE CREAM
The Ice Cream (Heat Treatment etc.) Regulations 1959
Throughout the year routine visits were paid to three ice cream manufacturing
premises situated within the Borough for the purpose of taking samples of ice
cream, ice cream lollies, etc. for analysis.
Periodic checks of the recording and indicating thermometers on the manufacturing
apparatus were made and these were at all times found to satisfy the
requirements of the Ice Cream (Heat Treatment etc.) Regulations.
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