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Food Hygiene.
Full use was made of the various statutory powers designed to promote
the hygiene of food preparation, handling and storage. Codes of
practice relating to food premises and catering businesses adopted by
the Council are issued to all food traders and on change of ownership.
These incorporate not only the obligatory requirements of the regulations,
but standards of practice and equipment which are generally accepted
as being desirable. Leaflets of advice to food handlers and notices
reminding them of the necessity for the washing of hands are distributed
as occasion requires. Printed display notices in the terms suggested
by the Ministry of Food were supplied to all food establishments advising
the public not to take dogs into shops where food is sold.
An event of great significance during the year was the issue of the
Report of the Catering Trade Working Party which was appointed by
the Ministry of Food in 1948 to advise as to the precautions to secure
cleanly conditions in the catering trade. This very comprehensive
report at last sets up a minimum or a " standard" code and a desirable
or "target" code for this industry. Whilst these recommendations
have not yet been supported by legislation, the report has considerable
educational value and does provide an authoritative standard against
which the adequacy of existing arrangements can be measured.
One aspect of food hygiene which merited particular attention
was the cleansing of drinking glasses in public houses and licensed clubs.
Towards the end of the year an approach was made to the landlords
of 13 licensed houses and 10 licensed clubs inviting their co-operation
to secure the use of cleansing and sterilising agents in the washing of
beer glasses and similar utensils on the lines suggested by the Catering
Trade Working Party Report. This was followed by personal visits
by the Sanitary Inspectors when advice was tendered as to methods
and materials. The matter was still being pursued at the end of the
year and was attended by a large measure of success.
Byelaws with regard to Handling and Sale of Food in the Open Air.
Byelaws for securing the observance of sanitary and cleanly conditions
and practices in connection with' the handling, wrapping and delivery
of food sold or intended for sale for human consumption, and in connection
with the sale or exposure for sale in the open air of food intended for
human consumption were adopted by the Council in December, 1950.
During the course of the past year all stalls and vehicles observed within
the district were inspected from the point of view of the byelaws. Twentythree
notices were served in respect of the undermentioned infringements
and all have been complied with.
Food storage in roadway 2
No name and address on stall or vehicle 16
Lack of cleanliness or contamination of food 5
40