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When the Borough became a food and drugs authority in April 1965, the function of administering
the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations was returned to the local authority after five years during
which the Middlesex County Council had acted in thematter.
Only one pasteurising bottling plant remains operative in the district, but there are 244 persons registered
as distributors, all licensed dealers in pre-packed milk to which special designations apply.
Assuming that the consumption of milk in the Borough conforms to the national average, some
214,000 pints of milk are sold daily. The amount of untreated milk is less than 50 pints per day.
A new designation for milk which is sterilised by a short time-high temperature method (one second
at 270°F) was authorised during the year—"Ultra-Heat-Treated". None is produced in the Borough but 36
licenses were issued to dealers in milk treated in this manner.
Inspections of dairies 43
Samples examined bacteriologically 90
Samples examined for fat content 34
Complaints of dirty bottles or foreign bodies in milk 18
REGISTRATION OF HAWKERS
Hawkers of food and premises used by them for storage accommodation must be registered by the
Council (section 11 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1950). Eighty-six hawkers are registered (31
selling fruit and vegetables, 30 selling "hot dogs", 13 ice-cream, 4 fish, 2 mobile canteens, 2 cooked poultry,
2 bread and confectionery, 1 groceries, and 1 selling milk drinks). Fourteen were newly registered during the
year.
Three hawkers were prosecuted for failing to register and for contraventions of the Food Hygiene
(General) Regulations, 1960. Eighteen summonses were found proved and resulted in the imposition of fines
totalling £205 with £18.17.0d. costs to the Council.
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE (Table 40)
Bacteriological specimens (swabs from sore throats, faeces from intestinal infections, cough plates and
post-nasal swabs from whooping cough cases, etc.) are examined by the Public Health Laboratory Service
at the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, and at the branch laboratory at Neasden Hospital.
Specimens delivered to the Health and Welfare Department and the Health Clinics are collected and
taken to the laboratory in Neasden Hospital. A report by telephone is given to the doctor as soon as possible,
followed by a written report.
Samples of milk, ice-cream and water are sent by public health inspectors.
The percentage of ice-cream samples graded 2, 3 or 4 was almost the same as last year. There
was one unsatisfactory sample of milk. This was taken from a vending machine and was probably due to
faulty stock rotation. Four samples of water from swimming baths were found to be unsatisfactory due to
the breakdown of plant. Further samples were satisfactory.
About 1,450 tons of bulk liquid egg is used annually in the seventeen bakeries in the Borough. With
the exception of approximately 40 tons, which is imported from Australia and Poland, it is produced and
pasteurised in this country. Twelve samples were taken in accordance with the Liquid Egg (Pasteurisation)
Regulations, 1963, and were found to be satisfactory.
FACTORY INSPECTION
The Council supervise sanitary conveniences in all factories and, in addition, cleanliness, overcrowding,
temperature, ventilation and drainage of floors in non-power factories. Details of inspections and notices
served, defects found and remedied are given in Tables 41 and 42.
Basement Bakehouses
In 1963, one Certificate of Suitability was issued to the occupier of a basement bakehouse in accordance
with the provisions of Section 70 of the Factories Act, 1961. During the year the premises ceased to
be used as a bakehouse.
Outworkers and Homeworkers
In February and August of each year, factory owners send to the local authority lists of names and
addresses of all persons who have worked at home for them during the previous six months on certain jobs.
202 were employed during the year, the largest number (136) altering and making clothing. Public Health
Inspectors inspected these workers' homes, which were all found to be satisfactory (Table 43).
NOISE NUISANCE
The Borough Council deals with noise nuisances under the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, which
repealed the noise nuisance section of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1944. It provides that noise and
vibration which are nuisances are offences under the Act. It is no longer necessary for a doctor to have to
decide whether there is danger or injury to health.