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14
PART II
POOD CONTROL
Interest in the control of food and food premises has been
mainly centred on the new legislation passed by Parliament at the
end of the year. The new Food and Drugs Act which came into
force on the 1st January, 1956 amends and consolidates the law on
this subject. It is hoped that the stren gthening of the law
governing hygiene in food transactions will enable advances to be
made in the control of food-borne disease and at the same time
save waste of food due to careless handling and storage.
The time has come when health education as a means of improving
hygienic practices in the food trade must be reinforced by a
vigorous and regular inspection of the premises. Whilst officers
of the local authority are at all times ready to advise and bring
to the notice of the public the dangers of improper handling of
food, they also have a duty to enforce the provisions of byelaws
and other legislation dealing with the control of food.
The Pood Hygiene Regulations, 19 55 modify and extend the
hygiene requirements of section 13 of the Food and Drugs Act,
19 38 and include a number of provisions affecting stalls and
vehicles and also certain general requirements that apply wherever
food is handled. They apply to the supply of food in the course
of a business which is defined so as to include canteens, clubs,
schools, hospitals and other institutions, as well as undertakings
carried on by public and local authorities.
The Regulations generally came into force on the 1st January,
1956, but certain provisions which may involve alterations to
premises or other substantial changes are deferred until the 1st
July, 1956. The main new provisions are as follows:-
(i) No food business may be Carried on in any insanitary
premises and the equipment used must be non-absorbent and maintained
in a thoroughly clean condition.
(ii) Preparation or packing of food must not be undertaken
in domestic premises other than those of the person carrying on