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34
Marking and Labelling of Food
Whilst it is not at present a requirement at law to identify by a label the type or variety of an opened
food, any misdescription can be a contravention of the Food and Drugs Act. Certain packeted or canned food
must, however, by the Labelling of Food Order, 1953, bear a name of the food, its ingredients, and the name
and address of the packer or a registered trade mark. Again, some imported foods must, when exposed for sale,
carry an indication of their origin in accordance with the Merchandise Marks Acts, and Orders made thereunder.
590 visits of inspection for the general purpose of checking the accuracy of marking and labelling
food exposed for sale were made, and first warnings were given in 38 instances.
Composition of Food
Of 926 samples taken, 237 were submitted to the Public Health Laboratory for bacteriological examination,
571 to the Public Analyst (31 taken formally), and 118 were examined in the Department (Table 41).
With regard to labelling contraventions, undertakings were received to amend 14 labels, the sale of 4
incorrectly labelled imported foods ceased, and 2 were the subject of legal proceedings.
Of the samples adversely reported upon as to composition, 5 resulted in the local stock being
returned to wholesalers for condemnation, 6 led to 3 prosecutions (one pending at the end of the year) , 10
warnings were given, and no further action was practicable in 8 cases.
The following results were obtained in the 4 prosecutions: —
(a) Failure to label canned fish correctly (2 summonses)—fined £10.0.0 and £5.5.0 costs.
(b) Improper us of preservatives—fined £20.0.0. and £10.10.0 costs.
(c) Improper use of preservatives—fined £10.0.0 and £10.10.0 costs.
MILK AND DAIRIES REGULATIONS
The Borough is a specified area in which it is permissible only to sell milk to which a special
designation is applied, i.e. pasteurised, sterilised, ultra-heat treated or untreated. Assuming that the consumption
of milk in the Borough conforms to the national average, some 214,000 pints are sold daily. The amount
of untreated (Kedassia) milk is less than 12 pints per day.
The only bottling plant in the Borough closed in the early part of the year, but there remain 255
persons registered as distributors, all being licensed as dealers in pre-packed milk to which special designations
apply.
Samples of milk were submitted for bacteriological examination and compositional analysis, with the
results shown in Table 42.
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).
Ninety-two hawkers are on the current register (36 selling fruit and vegetables, 23 mobile canteens and
hot dog vendors, 19 selling ice-cream, 5 fish, 2 cooked poultry, 2 groceries, 3 fish and chips, 1 bread and confectionery
and 1 selling milk drinks). Eight were newly registered during the year, and three were taken off
the register having ceased to trade.
Some hawkers are also licensed street traders at fixed sites, but the majority are itinerant, many
appearing in the Borough only when events of national or international importance take place at Wembley
Stadium. At such times there is also an influx of unregistered hawkers and reference has already been made to
prosecutions for lapses in food hygiene in this connection. In addition, five hawkers were prosecuted for
trading whilst not being registered. Five summonses were found proved on this count and resulted in the
imposition of fines totalling £11.0.0.
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE
(Table 42)
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 at 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, containers and water are sent by public health inspectors.
The percentage of ice-cream samples graded 3 or 4 shewed a reduction from last year. The inadequate
cleansing of ice-cream churns revealed by bacteriological examination has been the subject of improvement.
Six samples of water from swimming baths were found to be unsatisfactory as a result of temporary
faults in the plant which were immediately corrected. Subsequent samples were 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 43 and 44.