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33
INSPECTION OF POULTRY
There is no slaughtering of poultry carried on in the Borough, but some nine thousand ready-plucked
table-birds are eviscerated and dressed at one hundred and thirty shop premises every week, considerably more,
of course, immediately before Christmas. Of close on half-a-million carcases dressed per annum by far the
greatest proportion are broilers, perhaps ten per cent are turkeys (principally at Christmas and Easter) and one
per cent made up of culls, ducks and geese.
The number of visits made to premises in connection with poultry dressing was 185. Disease appears
to be rare in the birds reaching the shops in this Borough and no birds were condemned.
With the great number of birds being dressed at so many establishments, often at irregular times, it is
not practicable to institute a system of poultry inspection to cover all carcases and apart from spot-checks the
Department relies on the butchers to retain carcases of which they had any doubt for examination by the
Inspectors. This co-operation was invited in a circular letter which included a note of the findings to be
regarded as suspicious.
PREMISES WHERE FOOD IS PREPARED
Premises which manufacture or sell ice-cream or prepare or manufacture sausages, potted, pressed,
pickled, or preserved foods, including cooked meat or fish intended for sale, must be registered by the Council.
If the Council refuses or cancels a registration, the owner can appeal first to them, and if unsuccessful to a
court of summary jurisdiction. (Table 38). Fifty-three applications for registration were received during
the year, 52 in respect of ice-cream and one in respect of preserved food premises, and they were all granted.
Premises where ice-cream is manufactured are kept under close supervision. Most of the ice-cream
sold in the Borough is manufactured outside the district, and is usually pre-packed. The ice-cream reaches a
high standard of purity. (Table 42).
EDUCATION IN FOOD HYGIENE
Lectures illustrated with film shows, filmstrips and bacteriological cultures were given to school leavers
and other interested groups.
FOOD UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
Two cwts. 36 lbs. of meat inspected by the Public Health Inspectors was found to be unfit for human
consumption and was dealt with as trade refuse.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE
There is one private slaughterhouse licensed in the Borough and three slaughtermen are licensed to
work in it. Particulars of inspections, carcases inspected and condemned are shown in Table 39.
THE LIQUID EGG (PASTEURISATION) REGULATIONS, 1963
There is no plant engaged in the pasteurisation of liquid egg in the Borough, but local use of this
product is high owing to the presence of a large biscuit and cake manufacturer. In fifteen bakeries, large and
small, the annual consumption is some fifteen hundred tons, of which only two tons are imported.
Fourteen samples submitted to the Alpha-Anylase test were found to be satisfactory, and inspections
of confectionery bakehouses revealed no use of bulk egg from unauthorised sources.
CONTAMINATED AND UNSOUND FOODS
One hundred and fifteen complaints about foodstuffs were received from members of the public (Table
40). They alleged souring or decomposition, mouldiness, or the presence of dirt or foreign bodies including
insects. Twenty-two of these complaints, although made in good faith, were found on professional examination
of the foods to be not justified. Of the remainder, formal action was warranted in forty-seven cases. Four were
referred to other local authorities for attention, and the Council decided to send thirty-two warning letters, to
prosecute in six cases and to take no action in five others.
Proceedings were frustrated in two instances by the disappearance of a vendor, and of a complainant.
Two other cases were pending at the end of the year. The results of the other prosecutions and of two carried
over from 1966 were:
(a) Mouldy pies—fined £20.0.0d. and £7.7.0d. costs.
(b) Dirty milk bottle—fined £10.0.0d. and £3.0.0d. costs.
(c) Mouldy pies—conditional discharge—£10.10.0d. costs.
(d) Mouldy pies—fined £10.0.0d. and £10.10.0d. costs.
SAMPLING OF FOOD AND DRUGS
The Council became a food and drugs Authority on 1st April, 1965, and by the provision of the Food
and Drugs Act 1955, the medical officer of health and the public health inspectors are by virtue of their
appointments, authorised Officers for the purposes of the Act, including the procuring of samples. The former
County Analyst was appointed Public Analyst to the London Borough of Brent.