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36
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD AND
FOOD PREMISES.
The scope of this branch of public health administration continues
to extend with the issue of new Regulations and Orders, the
progress of industrial research and methods resulting in the
production of new varieties of preserved and tinned food and
improved methods of refrigeration and storage, permitting the
importation of even soft fruits from considerable distances, and the
increasing food consciousness of the general public as indicated by
the growing number of enquiries and complaints made to the Food
Inspectors. Information, also, is frequently sought by manufacturers
and dealers desiring improvements in their processes or
products.
Food Factories.—Considerable difficulty is being experienced in
maintaining anything like a satisfactory condition of maintenance
in food factories owing to the scarcity of materials for repair work.
It is always harder to obtain a high standard of cleanliness in food
looms which need redecoration than in those which readily show the
advantageous results of a little additional labour in cleaning.
Milk Supply.—Although improvement has resulted from
research into methods of pasteurisation and refrigeration of milk,
the problem of milk distribution still leaves room for improvement,
particularly in one direction, namely, that of getting milk to the
consumer quicker than is done at present. In many instances
pasteurised milk is being consumed four days after the milking.
Practically all milk is now transported by tankers or churns on
lorries during the forenoon of the day following milking, so that
it is, presumably, heat-treated and put in cold chambers ready for
delivery some time during its third day and, as there are no early
deliveries by dairymen, it would provide the only supply of liquid
milk for consumption on its fourth day. Little wonder that
complaints are frequently received in hot weather that milk turns
sour soon after delivery.
With reference to premises concerned with the milk supply, at
the end of the year one cowkeeper, 71 dairies and milkshops, 98
dairymen (including those whose premises are situated outside the
Borough) and 257 purveyors of milk in sealed receptacles remained
on the Register. In no case was it found necessary to refuse registration
or to remove a retailer from the Register under Section 22
of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938.
Milk (Special Designations) Regulations, 1936-46.—Under the
Milk (Special Designations) Regulations 34 principal licences
and 11 supplementary licences were granted. Of the principal
licences 2 were in respect of pasteurising establishments, 20 were
dealers' licences for the sale of pasteurised milk and 12 were dealers'
licences for the sale of tuberculin-tested milk.