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27
FOOD INSPECTION.
The premises wherein food is prepared or kept for sale have
been frequently visited, and in twenty instances the food which
came under my observation was found to be unfit for human
consumption.
In fifteen instances the articles were destroyed with the consent
of the owner, upon attention being called to the condition of the
food ; and in five cases application was made before a Justice of the
Peace, and orders were obtained to destroy the food so as to prevent
it being used in any way for human consumption.
A quantity of veal and sausages in a state of decomposition was
seized from a butcher's shop. The matter was reported to your
Committee, and the person in whose possession the same was found
was cautioned by order of the Council and no further action was
taken.
In another instance a quantity of beef exposed for sale was
seized from a shop in the High Street, the same being utterly unfit
for food. Proceedings in this case were ordered to be taken as the
person had previously been cautioned. The Justices imposed a
penalty of 20s. and £1 2s. costs. Shortly after, the business was
taken over by a partner, but the shop was kept under close observation
and on the 5th July, at 8 p.m., I observed a quantity of meat being
taken from a cart into the shop. I immediately entered the shop,
examined the meat, and found it to be in a very dropsical condition
and unfit for human food. The butcher indignantly denied that the
meat was unfit for food, but the Medical Officer of Health and
Veterinary Inspector confirmed my opinion. The meat was seized
and submitted to a Vstice of the Peace who gave an order for its
destruction. Enquiries were made and it was ascertained that the
meat which was seized formed the carcase of a heifer which had died
and was flayed in a neighbouring district, and sold for a small sum
to the butcher in question, to be used only for cat's meat.
The matter was fully reported to the Council who authorised
proceedings to be taken against the butcher for being in possession
of unsound meat intended for human food. The defendant, through
his solicitor, pleaded that he had been duped, but the Court ordered
him to pay a penalty of £10 and £1 2s. costs.
The following table shows the amount of food seized or
surrendered during the year, all of which was destroyed by burning
at the destructor.