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POOD INSPECTION.
In the Borough there are about 1750 establishments where food Is prepared for sale
and during the year, 3,393 visits were made to these establishments. Of this number, 720
are registered under the West Ham Corporation Act, 1937, Section 67, in connection with the
sale of ice cream or preserved foods.
The types of registered premises are as follows:-
Butchers 122 Greengrocers
Wet & Fried Pish Shops 60 Grocers 190
Ice Cream Establishments 305
The total number of visits paid to registered food premises was 1361.
The number of licensed distributors of milk is 250, and 542 licenses have been
issued in relation to designated milk sold by them. One premises is registered for the
sterilisation and sale of sterilised milk.
THIOUREA.
During the year, 40 samples of oranges and other fruits were taken as a result of
this preservative being found in oranges Imported from Spain. 16 samples were found to
be affected in amounts varying from minute traces to 15 parts per million in the juice.
This substance is used during the packing process to prevent the growth of mould on citrous
fruits during transit from the country of origin.
It was found, however, that during transit the preservative penetrated the skin of the
fruit only in very small amounts, fortunately, but sufficient for it to be regarded with
apprehension. So far as is known, no ill effects were produced as a result of eating the
affected fruit. The presence of this preservative in foodstuffs is an offence under the
Public Health (Preservatives in Food) Regulations, 1925-1948.
The Council considered this to be a matter of extreme importance and in accordance
with their directions the Town Clerk made representation to the Ministry of Food, requesting
that in the public interest, all possible action should be taken to secure that citrous
fruits treated with Thiourea, should not be permitted to be imported into this country.
The matter was also raised with the Borough's Members of Parliament and was discussed in the
House of Commons on several occasions.
Representations which subsequently were made by the Minister to the Government of the
exporting country, resulted in an assurance being given that action was to be taken to stop
the export to this country of oranges so treated.
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