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Of four samples taken during 1967, two failed the Alpha
Analyse test.
(c) Inspection of Food:
A constant surveillance of food premises whether retail,
wholesale, manufacturing or hawkers has been maintained
during the year to ensure that food for sale or manufacture or
preparation for sale is fit for human consumption.
There are no slaughter-houses or knackers yards within the
borough, but there are several large wholesale food depots,
and a meat depot and cold store. Very frequent inspections are
made of these premises.
As mentioned in my last report the normal procedure when a
retailer or wholesaler finds he has some unsound food is for
him to notify my department, surrender the food for destruction
and receive a condemnation certificate.
In cases of doubt the Inspector is frequently called in to
decide whether food is fit for human consumption or not.
The large quantities of food surrendered are enumerated in
appendix 26 but this, in fact, represents a Very small proportion
of the total food inspected either during routine or
special inspections.
In one case food was found to be exposed for sale in a
retail shop in an unfit condition. The food was seized by the
Inspector, taken before a Magistrate for condemnation, and In
subsequent proceedings fines and costs totalling £25 were
imposed.
During the year 47 complaints concerning food were received,
mainly relating to the presence of a foreign body. In 15 of these
cases the food which had been surrendered by the complainants
was submitted to the Public Analyst for examination and following
the receipt of his reports in 9 cases further action was
considered necessary.
In 24 cases details were submitted to the Health Committee
by the Town Clerk. In 4 Instances warnings were given, in 18
cases proceedings were instituted and fines and costs totalling
£173.5s.0d. were Imposed by the Magistrates, and the remaining
two cases were referred to the Borough's concerned.
Inspection of Premises, hawkers, etc.
The enforcement of the Food Hygiene Regulations has
received regular attention during the year and 3,515 inspections
were made for this purpose.
Informal action was taken in 74 instances to secure compliance
with the Regulations, and in two contraventions,