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44
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF THE FOOD SUPPLY.
This naturally falls under three headings:—
I. Supervision of premises where food is stored, prepared, or from
which it is sold or distributed.
II. Examination of food as to its soundness.
III. Sampling of food to determine its composition or sophistication.
These duties are distributed amongst the members of the Inspectorial
Staff and, although the Food Inspector is primarily responsible
for the purity of the food, this duty, particularly in respect of milk and
the soundness of food, is shared, but to a less degree, by all the
Inspectors.
Apart from considerations of purity and soundness, the possibility of
contamination as affecting the wholesomeness of food demands consideration.
The existing powers of control are mainly directed towards
the cleanliness of premises, and this control has been somewhat extended
by the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932 in respect
of certain articles of food. Henceforth, any premises used or proposed
to be used for the preparation or manufacture of sausages, or potted,
pressed, pickled or preserved meat, fish or other food intended for sale,
shall be registered with the Sanitary Authority, discretionary power
being given, under certain safeguards, to refuse to register or to remove
from the register premises deemed unsuitable.
Power to guard against contamination by persons handling food is
either lacking or is inadequate, but it is of interest to note that, by the
above-mentioned Act, the London County Council is empowered to
make by-laws for promoting sanitary and cleanly conditions in the
manufacture, preparation, storage, transport or exposure for sale of any
article intended to be sold for food. The need for such by-laws has
been manifest for a considerable time.
The following is a tabular statement of the visits made by Mr. Yates,
Food Inspector:— No. of Visits.
Visits made re complaints 1
Market inspection 93
Food premises (Restaurants, etc.) 223
Fish premises 17
Slaughterhouses 226
Butchers' premises 403
Miscellaneous 78
St. George's Wharf 136
Calls (Stalls, etc.) 983
2160