[Report 1956] / School Medical Officer of Health, Bury County Borough.

  • Bury (Greater Manchester, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / School Medical Officer of Health, Bury County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    MARKETS. There are two retail markets within the Borough, a large covered market hall, and an open market held on three weekdays, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. In addition the open market is occupied several days a week by a number of food stalls for the sale of fish, horse-flesh, fruit and greengrocery. No. of food stalls in Market Hall 19 No. of food stalls on Open Market 99 Continued progress is maintained in the provision by market traders of glass and perspex protective screens to those articles of food most liable to contamination when exposed for sale in the open air. The more recent developments have been in the provision of covers for cut cheeses and the packaging of freshly drawn poultry in polythene bags. A small scale experiment by one trader on the sale of pre-packed meat and bacon was not well supported by the public in terms of trade, and has been abandoned. It has still been necessary for public health inspectors to continually direct traders’ attention to the most practical use and application of such methods of protecting foods against con- tamination as they may have provided. Once again, fishmongers have proved to be the most pe’-sistent offenders in this respect. Having regard to the provisions of the Food Hygiene Regulations relating to fish stalls, the Council in August resolved to provide six new covered and enclosed fish stalls complete with sinks, wash-hand basins, hot and cold water, drainage and lighting. During the year a further four additional wholly enclosed stalls ])rovided with water, drainage and lighting services, were erected on the Market Ground. Work was also commenced on the additional com- munal washing point agreed to be provided by the Markets and Baths Committee in 1952. On completion of this work tenants will have avail- able three different sources of supply of hot and cold water, and two ranges of sinks and wash basins serving opposite areas of the ground, complete with hot and cold water for personal washing and equipment. It is worthy of note that the whole of the stalls on the Market Ground, whilst of a traditional type, are of a permanent nature, and are all provided with wooden roofs and serving counters, and electric light- ing. During the year public health inspectors made 425 visits to market stalls. Seventy-one intimations or notices were given or served in respect of offences under the Food Hygiene Regulations and Food Byelaws, and were abated. MERCHANDISE MARKS ACT. The following imported foodstuffs are required to be marked with an indication of country of origin, or the words “ foreign ” or “ empire,” on exposure for retail sale; Meat, bacon, ham, fresh apples, raw tomatoes, shell eggs, dried eggs, currants, sultanas, raisins, oat products, honey, frozen or chilled salmon or sea trout, butter, dead poultry. General compliance by traders with the provisions of the Marking Orders has been good, although some confusion has arisen on the Open Market with the marking of imported tomatoes during the late spring and early summer, when English, Canary, Channel Isle and Continental tomatoes have been available simultaneously. Public health inspectors paid 4,563 visits to food shops and market stalls to observe compliance with the provisions of the Marking Orders.