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67
IMPORTED FOOD.
I have received the following' report from Mr. Fisher:—
Southwark is one of the few Boroughs in London which is charged
with special powers as a Riparian Authority in conjunction with the
Port Sanitary Authority. There is nearly two miles of river frontage
along which is situated about 30 wharves, including 4 large cold stores.
At the wharves all kinds of tinned, frozen and chilled foods, flour,
cereals, and provisions are landed; these are brought into the Borough
by barges from the London docks and ships which discharge in the
Thames.
Customs officers are stationed at most of the wharves, and it is
the duty of the officers of the Sanitary Authority to keep in constant
touch with them.
The geographical position of the Borough, with its river frontage,
its proximity to the tinned food market in Eastcheap, the Central Meat
Markets at Smithfield and the provision markets at London Bridge,
has made it second only to the City of London in importance as a
food centre.
In 1908 the Ministry of Health issued the first regulations which
gave the Sanitary Authority power through its Medical Officer of
Health to control and supervise all foods landed within its area.
From that time until 1925 one inspector carried out this important
branch of Public Health work, in which was included the supervision
of all premises used for the preparation and sale of food in all parts
of the Borough. At the end of 1925 it was found impossible to cope
with the work, and an assistant food inspector was appointed.
During the present year, owing to the increase in the amount of
food landed, it was found necessary in the re-organisation of the inspectoral
staff to allocate a portion of the time of an additional inspector
to this work.
There is much to be said for the vigilance of this service, seeing
that the food is distributed over the whole of the country, as during
the period (1908-1932) it is recorded that only two parcels of doubtful
food have been sent out of the Borough without the inspectors'
knowledge.
This has only been made possible by reason of the close cooperation
between the Officer of Customs, the Sanitary Authority, and
the wharfingers, and I should like to express my thanks to the
wharfingers, who have shown the greatest courtesy to the examining
officers, and at all times given them every assistance in tracing parcels
of unsound food.