Dangers Seen In Self-Service Of Food

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 9

Dangers Seen In SelfService Of Food

The outbreak of dysentery at Waitaki Boys’ High School at the end of last year illustrated how such food as bread could transfer infection from person to person, and it was felt that in order to eliminate the hazard of cross-infection, quite apart from the aesthetic aspect, self-service should not be permitted, said the Medical Officer of Health ait Timaru (Dr. W. I. Glass) in a survey of eating-houses to be submitted to the monthly meeting of the Timaru City Council this evening. Reporting on aspects of hygiene and appearance which both he and the city health inspector (Mr A. W. B. Watkinson) felt should be improved—aspects not covered by the Eating-house Regulations, 1948, made under the 1956 Health Act—Dr. Glass said provision was made in the regulations prevenitdng the head, shoulders or arms of the public achieving a position directly above the food displayed. However, this did not stop a person handling cakes and sandwiches. He said food should be displayed in glass cabinets to enable customers to make their choice, but only a member of the staff using tongs should be allowed to serve such food to the customer. Prepackaged Food The prepackaging of sandwiches and cakes was desirable from the public health point of view, but it was felt that it was so closely tied to the economics of production and sale that it was impracticable for the small

food-producers and retailers

characteristic of this industry in New Zealand. In some of the large North Island centres prepackaging food had already taken place. In Wellington a large department store displayed in a refrigerated cabinet ail Conns of meat in a prepackaged farm, and although the de, vetopment of prepackaged food was expected, in Timaru ait present it was felt to be an unlikely development, said the report. Dr. Glass added that while recognising the difficulty of designing suitable head covering with many of the modem hair-styles, some form of white headband would be an advantage both for appearance and hygiene. In some parts of the world local authorities graded eat-ing-houses and food shops, and gave to those which reached a required high standard an authority seal which could be displayed on the front of the shop, and it was felt that the Timaru City Council oould perhaps give some consideration to such a procedure, said the report. Complimenting the council on the standard achieved in Timaru, Dr. Glass said this had been done not by prosecutions but by day-to-day health education procedures. Eating-houses generally compared favourably with, if not better than, those anywhere else in the country, the report said.

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